US upgrades Pakistan on 'human trafficking index'
Washington, June 30 : The US has moved Pakistan from a watch list to another group of countries that have taken significant steps to curb human trafficking, a report has revealed.
"The government of Pakistan does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so," Dawn news quoted the State Department report as saying on Friday.
"The government demonstrated increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period, therefore, Pakistan was upgraded to Tier 2."
Tier 2 on the State Department's list includes countries that do not fully comply with these minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.
The move comes two days after an international financial watchdog placed Pakistan on its monitoring list - known as the "grey list" - for allowing terrorist groups to collect funds.
"Modern slavery has no place in the world, and I intend to ensure, through diplomatic engagement and increased action, that the United States government's leadership in combating this global threat is sustained in the years to come," said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while releasing the report.
The report notes that the Pakistan government demonstrated increasing efforts by raising the number of victims it identified and investigations and prosecutions of sex trafficking, Dawn reported.
The provincial government of Punjab increased investigations, prosecutions, and convictions for bonded labour, the country's largest human trafficking problem.
The governments of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh reported operating two additional women shelters and three additional child protection units, respectively.
The report, however, points out the Pakistan government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas including the overall law enforcement efforts on labour trafficking remained inadequate compared with the scale of the problem.
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345 Indian fishermen stranded in Iran return home via Armenia
New Delhi (PTI): A group of 345 Indian fishermen, who were stranded in Iran amid escalating regional tensions, returned to India via Armenia on Saturday, officials said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar thanked his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan for assistance in return of the Indian nationals.
The Indian nationals arrived in Chennai this evening, the officials cited above said.
The circumstances that led to them being stranded in Iran were not immediately known.
"Thank FM @AraratMirzoyan and the Government of Armenia for facilitating the evacuation of Indian fishermen today from Iran, through Armenia to India," Jaishankar said on social media.
Over 1,500 Indian nationals have left Iran through land border crossings in Armenia and Azerbaijan since the start of the West Asia conflict over a month ago.
"A group of Indian fishermen, stranded in Iran, are returning home via Armenia today; their flight is expected to reach India this evening," a government statement said.
It said the Ministry of External Affairs continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in the West Asian region, with the safety, security and welfare of the Indian community being accorded the highest priority.
It also made a mention of five Indians being injured in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
According to Abu Dhabi authorities, the Indian nationals were among the 12 people injured by debris from an intercepted missile.
"In an attack in Abu Dhabi, five Indian nationals were injured; four have been discharged, one remains under treatment," the Indian government's statement said.
It said the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi is extending "full" assistance and coordinating with local authorities, adding that their flight is expected to reach India this evening.
