The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the reports of a potential American travel ban on Pakistani nationals as “speculative” on Thursday, saying that Islamabad had not received any official indication of these measures.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan Reuters Last week’s report suggested that the United States, under President Donald Trump, could impose new travel restrictions in Pakistan and Afghanistan following a review by the Government of Security and Risks of Verification.
“For the moment, all this is speculative and therefore does not justify an answer,” said Khan. “Until now, we have not received any indication of such a ban from the Pakistani nation.”
The statement came in the midst of information that the Pakistani ambassador to Turkmenistan KK Ahsan Wagan was denied entry to the United States this week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wagan was traveling for personal reasons and was not eligible for diplomatic immunity. Officials were investigating the incident.
Shafqat Ali Khan added that the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its mission in Washington were in regular contact with the American authorities to collect other details.
On January 20, President Trump published an executive decree demanding a stricter security verification for foreigners seeking to enter the United States.
The ordinance forced the officials of the American firm to submit a list by March 12 of the countries deemed to have inadequate screening measures, which could cause partial or complete travel suspensions.
THE Reuters
