"Pakistan strongly condemns the burning of the holy Quran by Pastor Terry Jones, head of the Dove world Qutreach Center in Florida recently," Xinhua quoted the foreign ministry as saying Wednesday. "We feel that such senseless acts would only inspire hatred and violence in the world," a statement said.

The ministry statement said it was the collective responsibility of all governments and institutions to work closely on promoting harmony, peace and unity among people of all faiths. Jones burned the Quran to protest the imprisonment in Iran of 32-year-old Christian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani.