The Trump administration has reportedly informed Pakistan that diplomats at their Washington embassy and at consulates might have a travel restriction of 40kms imposed on them.
According to some US and Pakistan reports, US notified Pakistan of this in mid-March and both sides have since had several discussions on the issue in Islamabad and in Washington.
Dawn news reported that the US the notice, sent to the Pakistan embassy in Washington and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, indicates restrictions could be imposed from May 1 if certain issues remain unresolved.
However, when contacted by Dawn News, about whether restrictions could be imposed in the near future, a US official said: “Beyond that, we have nothing to announce at this time.”
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Embassy gave an almost identical response, saying that so far there were no restrictions on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the US, but the embassy had no information about future restrictions, reported Dawn News.
The issue was also raised at the Tuesday afternoon news briefing at the State Department where spokesperson Heather Nauert simply said: “I don’t have anything for you on that.”
Dawn News reported that according to the notification, diplomats will need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 40km radius.
In their discussions with their Pakistani counterparts, US officials also point out that Islamabad has already imposed similar restrictions on American diplomats in Pakistan, who are not allowed to visit the tribal belt or Karachi.
Pakistani officials, however, argue that those are not restrictions but security measures intended to protect American diplomats.
However, according to Dawn News, diplomatic sources in Washington say the US’s plan is linked to a larger visa dispute.
The news portal reported that last year the US complained about its diplomats getting only one-year visas, while the US issued Pakistani diplomats with two year visas. Other visa issues raised by the US included those for businessmen, Dawn News reported.
This possible move comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Pakistan over what Washington claims is Islamabad’s failure to take assertive action in the fight against terrorism and over the war in Afghanistan.
To further complicate relations, Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Asif on Wednesday said a US diplomat who was involved in a fatal traffic accident in Islamabad over the weekend would face legal action in accordance with the country’s law.
Col. Joseph Emmanuel Hall, the air and defense attaché of the US Embassy in Islamabad, hit a motorcyclist on Saturday when he allegedly jumped a red light at an intersection.
The man, identified as Ateeq Baig, 22, reportedly died at the scene.
Anadolu news agency reported that Asif said: “The foreign office has taken up the issue with the US embassy and the attaché will be dealt with according to law.”
According to Anadolu, police have already registered a murder case against Hall, who has not been arrested owing to his diplomatic immunity.
The news agency also reported police have asked that Hall be included on the Exit Control List (ECL) to prevent him from leaving the country.