Pakistan appreciates Denmark’s proposed legislation to ban Qur’an burnings — caretaker FM
Pakistan appreciates Denmark’s proposed legislation to ban Qur’an burnings — caretaker FM /node/2361811/pakistan
Pakistan appreciates Denmark’s proposed legislation to ban Qur’an burnings — caretaker FM
In this picture taken on July 5, 2023, activists of the right-wing religious Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party take part an anti-Sweden demonstration in Karachi, following the burning of the Koran outside a Stockholm mosque that outraged Muslims around the world. (Photo courtesy: AFP/File)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan appreciates the Danish government’s decision to prohibit the burning of copies of the Holy Qur’an, the caretaker Pakistani foreign minister said on Saturday, as the Nordic country attempts to reduce tensions with the Muslim world.
Denmark and Sweden have seen a string of protests in recent weeks where copies of the Qur’an have been burned, or otherwise damaged, prompting outrage in Muslim countries which have demanded the Nordic governments put a stop to the burnings.
Pakistan’s caretaker foreign minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, said he discussed the matter over the phone with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, describing the exchange as “welcoming.”
“Pakistan appreciates the Danish government’s proposed legislation to criminalize improper treatment of religious texts and objects of significant importance, including the Holy Qur’an,” Jilani said on messaging platform, X.
Jilani said the Danish foreign minister reiterated his government’s strong commitment to respecting these religious sensitivities. “Looking forward to working closely with him to advance our common interests,” he added.
Pakistan appreciates the Danish govt's proposed legislation to criminalise improper treatment of religious texts and objects of significant importance, including the Holy Quran.
On Friday, Denmark’s Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard announced the Nordic country would propose a legislation that prohibited inappropriate handling of objects with “essential religious significance for a religious community.”
The move would make it punishable to burn a Qur’an, Bible or Torah, he told a news conference.
The announcement came days after Denmark lifted heightened border controls it had imposed earlier due to increased security concerns arising from a series of the Qur’an burning incidents.
The Nordic country had lately issued a statement that it was mulling banning Qur’an-burning protests and gatherings.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Qatar on Tuesday agreed to deepen their strategic and economic cooperation during high-level talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Sharif’s office said.
Sharif visited Qatar along with a high-level delegation on the invitation of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Pakistan premier also held meetings with Qatar’s trade and defense minister to discuss cooperation in various domains.
The visit came at a time when Pakistan is seeking closer economic engagement with Gulf partners amid its broader push to stabilize the economy and attract investment, while maintaining security and defense cooperation with key regional states.
During their meeting in Doha, PM Sharif and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments, according to the Pakistan prime minister’s office.
“They reaffirmed the strong brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in political, economic and institutional ties,” Sharif’s office said.
“Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy, defense, manpower and labor and culture, with both sides stressing the importance of their task force to accelerate cooperation in all these areas.”
Pakistan and Qatar maintain strong trade and investment ties. In 2022, the office of Qatar’s emir said the Qatar Investment Authority planned to invest $3 billion in Pakistan, targeting sectors including transport, aviation, education, health, media, technology and labor.
Nearly 300,000 Pakistanis live and work in Qatar, according to Pakistan’s foreign office, with many employed in health, education, engineering and public services, as well as construction and transport. The two countries engage through forums such as the Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Ministerial Commission.
Sharif said he had productive discussions with Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on how the two sides could transform their brotherly ties into mutually beneficial economic relationships.
“We also took stock of the regional situation,” he said. “Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (second right) meets the Qatari Emir Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (left) in Doha, Qatar, on February 24, 2026. (PID)
DIALOGUE WITH AFGHANISTAN
Earlier, Sharif and Qatar’s Deputy PM Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani discussed the situation in Afghanistan and called for dialogue to support regional stability.
The meeting took place amid renewed tensions after Islamabad carried out airstrikes last week on what it described as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) targets inside Afghanistan. Kabul said the strikes killed civilians and vowed to respond to what it called a violation of its sovereignty.
“Regional developments were also discussed, in particular the situation in Iran and Afghanistan,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.”
This was the second time in less than six months that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan. The last strikes triggered heavy, weeklong clashes between the neighbors along their border before Qatar and Turkiye mediated a ceasefire between them in Oct. last year.
Separately, Sharif held meetings with Qatar’s State Minister for Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and a delegation of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA), highlighting Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms.
He invited QBA members to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, energy, agriculture, technology and export-oriented manufacturing, his office said.
