Pakistan has rejected “the unsubstantiated and baseless” inclusion of the country in the Child Soldiers Prevention Act (CSPA) list, a statement issued by the Foreign Office said on Friday, reported Express Tribune.
A day after Pakistan was added to the list of the US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which ranks countries in various tiers in accordance with their efforts for eliminating trafficking, Pakistan categorically rejected the decision, terming it “unsubstantiated and baseless”.
“Pakistan does not support any non-state armed group, nor any entity recruiting or using child soldiers,” the statement said, asserting that Pakistan’s efforts in fighting non-state armed groups, including terrorist entities, were well recognized.
“The inclusion of Pakistan in the CSPA List depicts a factual error and lack of understanding. No state institution was consulted by the US prior to the publication of the report. Nor were any details provided of the basis on which the conclusion was reached.
