ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad on Saturday revealed that the government is currently making efforts to avoid the potential US travel ban on Pakistan.
The minister also termed the US President Donald Trump’s travel ban policy inappropriate, adding, “Government has raised the issue…it will be resolved within a week or ten days.”
Earlier this month, Reuters reported that the Trump administration might put a blanket travel ban on some countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, an internal memo acquired by Reuters today has revealed that while there is no blanket travel ban on Pakistan, the United States will implement visa restrictions.
Pakistan has been included in a group that would be considered for partial suspension of visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days”.
The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries — Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan — would face partial suspensions that would impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
In the third group, a total of 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan among others would be considered for a partial suspension of US visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days”, the memo said.
