ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday summoned the ambassador of the Netherlands to lodge a strong protest against “blasphemous” messages posted on Twitter by Dutch politician Geert Wilders.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua, who lodged the protest, informed the ambassador that “such acts cannot be allowed with impunity under the pretext of freedom of expression.” She also conveyed Pakistan’s deep concern and disappointment with the “continued and deliberate malicious attempts of the Dutch parliamentarian to hurt the sentiments of hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world,” and called upon the Dutch government to condemn the controversial tweets and to take action to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The ambassador told Janjua that he will convey the concerns of the government and people of Pakistan to the authorities in the Netherlands, the ministry said.
Earlier this year, Wilders announced a cartoon contest that many Muslims considered blasphemous but canceled it following criticism and protests across the Muslim world. The Dutch government also distanced itself from the politician and his competition, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte reiterating that Wilders, the leader of the right-wing Party for Freedom, is not a member of the government.
“To avoid the risk of victims of Islamic violence, I have decided not to let the cartoon contest go ahead,” Wilders had said in a written statement at the time. He claimed to have received death threats.
Pakistan summons Dutch envoy; protests ‘blasphemous tweets’
Pakistan summons Dutch envoy; protests ‘blasphemous tweets’
- Right-wing politician Geert Wilders posted a series of ‘blasphemous’ comments on his official Twitter account
- Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua called upon the Dutch government to condemn the controversial tweets
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
