Travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in US take effect

WASHINGTON: The United States decision to restrict the movement of Pakistani diplomats in America takes effect from today, while Pakistan is reportedly also considering a reciprocal move.

The U.S. government had notified Pakistani authorities that diplomats at its Washington embassy and consulates will be barred from traveling more than 40 kilometers from their posts without prior permission.

Pakistan Ambassador to the US Aizaz Chaudhry also confirmed that the United States’ travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats came into effect from Friday (May 11).

“In my opinion, this is not the right decision,” Chaudhry told the Voice of America. “Both countries have to come close to each other, and measures like these do not help us to that end.”

The State Department says it has “nothing to announce on the matter at this time,” but has previously said it has the “authority to impose a range of travel controls” under the 1982 Foreign Missions Act.

“Probably they [the U.S.] have some other grievances, which is under discussion. We believe that matters can be solved. A mechanism has been worked out,” he said. “This step was not necessary. But now that they’ve taken this decision, they must have thought it through.”

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been cold in recent months, since the US suspended more than $1 billion in security aid to Pakistan.

A frustrated President Donald Trump issued a New Year’s Day tweet, saying the U.S. had given Pakistan more than $33 billion in aid and gotten nothing but “lies and deceit” in return. He accused the Pakistanis of giving safe haven to terrorists the U.S. is fighting in neighboring Afghanistan.