Pakistan Denies Reports of US Travel Ban
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- March 14, 2025
- 2:24 pm
- 46
- Current Affairs
Pakistan denies reports of a US travel ban, calling them “speculative.” The Foreign Office said there is no official confirmation of such restrictions. Officials clarified that Islamabad has received no notice from the US government.
US Travel Ban Speculation
A Reuters report last week suggested that the US, under President Donald Trump, might impose new travel restrictions on Pakistan and Afghanistan. The report said a government review of security and vetting concerns as the reason behind the potential ban.
Foreign Office Responds to Reports
At a weekly media briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan rejected the claims. He said there is no official sign of a ban on Pakistani nationals.
“As of now, this is all speculative and does not warrant a response,” Khan said. “So far, we have not been given any indication of such a ban on the Pakistan nation.”
Despite these reports, Pakistan’s foreign ministry and its mission in Washington remain in touch with US authorities. Officials are closely monitoring the situation to gather further details.
Pakistani Ambassador Denied Entry into the US
Rumors about a possible travel ban increased after Pakistani Ambassador to Turkmenistan, K.K. Ahsan Wagan, was denied entry into the US earlier this week. But the Foreign Office clarified that Wagan was traveling for personal reasons and did not qualify for diplomatic immunity. Officials are investigating the situation.
Trump’s Executive Order on Travel Restrictions
On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order requiring stricter security vetting for foreigners seeking entry into the US. The order told US cabinet members to list countries by March 12 where travel should be partially or fully suspended due to poor screening procedures.
Impact on Afghan Refugees
The Reuters report also indicated that these new restrictions could affect tens of thousands of Afghans who had been approved for resettlement in the US. Many of them had worked with the US military during the 20-year war in Afghanistan and now face threats from the Taliban.
Pakistan’s authorities continue to monitor the situation while staying in touch with US officials.
