Lagatar24 Desk
Washington, D.C.: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan are among 41 countries that could soon face strict travel restrictions to the United States under the Donald Trump administration’s latest efforts to curb illegal immigration, according to a draft report accessed by Reuters.
Officials stated that the new travel restrictions would be broader than those imposed during Trump’s first term, which had banned travellers from seven majority-Muslim countries.
Pakistan Among 26 Nations on Partial Ban List
A draft list of recommendations by U.S. security officials categorizes Pakistan in a group of 26 nations that could face a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if the Shehbaz Sharif-led government fails to address security deficiencieswithin 60 days.
This list includes:
• Pakistan
• Turkmenistan
• Belarus
• Bhutan
• Vanuatu
Vanuatu recently made headlines after fugitive ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi claimed to have acquired its citizenship.
Pakistan Dismisses Reports as ‘Speculative’
In response to the speculation, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the reports of a potential U.S. travel ban.
“As of now, this is all speculative and hence does not warrant a response,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.
The latest tension between Washington and Islamabad follows an incident earlier this week where Pakistani Ambassador to Turkmenistan, KK Ahsan Wagan, was denied entry into the U.S. and was deported from Los Angeles. While U.S. authorities did not specify a reason, reports indicate that Wagan’s visa contained controversial references.
10 Countries on the ‘Red List’ for Full Visa Suspension
A separate “red list” consists of 10 nations whose citizens would face a complete visa suspension:
• Afghanistan
• Cuba
• Iran
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Venezuela
• Yemen
Additional Restrictions for Five Other Nations
Five other countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—could see restrictions affecting tourist, student, and immigrant visas with some exceptions.
Trump’s Executive Order on Travel
On January 20, the day Trump assumed office, he signed an executive order mandating strict vetting of all foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. as part of heightened security measures.
The final decision on the travel bans is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, with potential diplomatic consequences for several nations.
