Pakistan Amongst 41 International locations at Threat of US Journey Ban Below Trump

A brand new report means that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan are amongst 41 international locations more likely to face journey restrictions beneath the administration of former US President Donald Trump, who has vowed to implement stricter immigration insurance policies if re-elected.

In keeping with a draft doc accessed by Reuters, the proposed journey curbs may very well be broader than these imposed throughout Trump’s first time period when vacationers from seven majority-Muslim nations had been banned.

The draft checklist, compiled by US safety officers, teams Pakistan with 26 different nations that would face a partial suspension of visa issuance. The US authorities has reportedly given Pakistan a 60-day window to handle sure “deficiencies,” failing which the nation may even see restrictions imposed on its residents’ potential to acquire US visas.

Different nations on this class embody Turkmenistan, Belarus, Bhutan, and Vanuatu, the latter not too long ago making headlines after fugitive businessman and former IPL chairperson Lalit Modi claimed to have acquired its citizenship.

As well as, a separate “pink checklist” has been proposed for ten nations, together with Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. Residents from these international locations may face a full suspension of US visa issuance, making it almost not possible for them to enter america.

A 3rd class comprising 5 international locations—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—would see restrictions primarily affecting vacationer and scholar visas, with sure exceptions for different immigrant classes.

Regardless of widespread hypothesis, the Pakistani authorities has dismissed reviews of a doable journey ban as “unverified.” Pakistani Overseas Workplace spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan clarified that no official communication had been acquired from US authorities concerning such measures.

“As of now, that is all speculative and therefore doesn’t warrant a response,” Khan acknowledged, emphasizing that Pakistan stays dedicated to diplomatic engagement with america.

The newest tensions between Washington and Islamabad come simply days after Pakistani ambassador to Turkmenistan, KK Ahsan Wagan, was denied entry into the US and deported from Los Angeles. Whereas American authorities haven’t supplied an in depth rationalization, reviews recommend that the deportation was triggered by “controversial visa references” flagged by the US immigration system.

If re-elected, Trump is anticipated to implement a harder stance on immigration. On January 20, the primary day of his return to workplace, he signed an government order mandating rigorous vetting procedures for all international nationals looking for entry into the US. The transfer aligns together with his long-standing marketing campaign guarantees to limit unlawful immigration and improve nationwide safety.

With international political dynamics shifting quickly, Pakistan and different nations on the checklist will possible await additional readability from Washington earlier than responding with diplomatic measures.