ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad on Thursday sought further details from Washington after the United States suspended immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, but hoped the move was temporary.
Reacting to the US decision on immigrant visas, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan took note of the US State Department’s “brief statements on its social media channels regarding internal review of immigrant visa processing only”.
He stressed that Islamabad was in contact with US authorities for further details, describing the situation as “developing news, which we are monitoring”.
The spokesperson stressed that Pakistan views the move as part of an internal review of US immigration policies and systems. “We understand that this is an ongoing internal review process of the U.S. immigration policies and system and we hope that routine immigrant visa processing will resume soon.”
Responding to questions on why India was not included in the list, Andrabi avoided speculation, reiterating that Pakistan was awaiting formal clarification from Washington.
The suspension of visas has sparked concern among Pakistani applicants and comes despite recent high-level exchanges between Islamabad and Washington.
Andrabi rejected suggestions that the development reflected a slowdown or tensions in bilateral relations, noting the time difference between the two countries and saying that overall coordination with the United States remained “effective.”
Along with the visa issue, Pakistan is also weighing the implications of President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on countries and entities doing business with Iran.
Responding to several questions on whether Pakistan would be affected, the spokesperson said the announcement was still in progress. “This is constantly evolving news,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s trade relations were conducted “in accordance with international trade regulations and international law.”
He stressed that Islamabad remains in touch with US authorities on trade issues and highlighted the recent positive trajectory of bilateral trade negotiations.
“Pakistan has had very positive trade negotiations with the United States. We look forward to the culmination of concluding mutually beneficial trade agreements with the American side,” Andrabi said.
On Pakistan’s trade with Iran, estimated at around $3 billion, he said it also respected international rules and Islamabad would continue to engage with Washington and Tehran on this issue.
Andrabi said Pakistan was “closely following developments related to the situation in Iran” and described Iran as “a neighboring country, an important member of the international community and global brotherhood.”
“As a neighboring, friendly and brotherly country, Pakistan wishes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Iran,” he said, stressing that peace and stability in Iran was in Pakistan’s interest.
He highlighted the “deep historical, cultural and religious ties” between the two peoples and expressed confidence in Iran’s resilience.
Noting that the recent protests were triggered by economic difficulties “further exacerbated by international sanctions”, the spokesperson said Pakistan hoped the relief measures announced by the Iranian government would ease the hardships of the people.
“We have full confidence in the wisdom of the Iranian people and leaders, rooted in their rich culture, ancient civilization, history and resilience, to address all the challenges Iran faces,” Andrabi said.
He also reiterated a travel warning to Pakistani citizens, urging caution and confirming that the embassy in Tehran was actively assisting nationals, including students who returned safely in recent days.
Regarding the Middle East, Pakistan welcomed the announcement by the US special envoy that the ceasefire in Gaza was entering a second phase focused on demilitarization, reconstruction and technocratic governance.
Andrabi said Pakistan had remained committed to the Gaza peace process “as a member of the Arab-Islamic group of countries since the very beginning of the initiative in September 2025.”
He recalled that Pakistan supported both the Gaza Peace Plan and the subsequent UN Security Council resolution aimed at saving civilian lives, maintaining the ceasefire, ensuring large-scale humanitarian assistance and ensuring the withdrawal of occupying forces from Gaza.
Calling the latest announcement a “developing story”, he said Islamabad hoped the next phase would lead to “further stabilization of the situation, an intensification of humanitarian assistance and an end to the suffering of the Palestinians”.
At the same time, Pakistan reiterated its long-standing position that any peace process must result in a political settlement. Andrabi said Pakistan hoped these efforts would lead to “a credible and time-bound political process, consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, to establish an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian state, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.” Regarding the question of joining an international stabilization force for Gaza, he said no decision had been made and the mandate for such a force had not yet been finalized.
