US State Department denies imposition of travel restrictions on Pak diplomats
By
Hasaan Ali Khan
Published: April 11, 2018
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KARACHI: The US State Department on Wednesday denied reports that travel restrictions have been placed on Pakistani diplomats.
“There are no restrictions on the travel of Pakistani diplomats in the United States,” confirmed the US embassy spokesperson.
Earlier, it was reported that the Trump administration had decided to impose new restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in the US.
Reports had suggested that a new code of conduct was prepared by the US government, restricting the movement of Pakistani diplomatic staff to a 25-mile radius.
US ‘to impose new restrictions’ on Pakistani diplomats
Sources had further claimed that a one month notice has been served to Pakistani diplomats serving in four consulates apart from the embassy.
Police want US diplomat on no-fly list
The development was reported days after US defence and air attaché Col Joseph Emanuel Hall ’s reckless driving killed a motorcyclist and injured another in the federal capital.
Col Hall was booked in a criminal case after he hit the two motorcyclists at the Daman-e-Koh intersection on Saturday.
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been at the lowest since President Donald Trump’s tweet in January, which alleged that the Pakistani government had ‘deceived’ the US.
The tweet was followed by suspension of aid to Pakistan which was given for the country’s role in the war on terror. Pakistani officials strongly refuted Trump’s claims and said the country has done its utmost to ensure elimination of terror groups on its soil.
Pakistan has suffered greatly in the war on terror, with civilian and military casualties in the thousands and economic damage in the billions as a result of the war.
US denies reports of travel restrictions for Pakistan diplomats
By Web Desk Last Updated Apr 11, 2018
ISLAMABAD: Following Pakistan’s pursuance of a case against US diplomat who
killed a motorcyclist in hit-and-run in Islamabad, it was reported that United States is now considering to impose restrictions on the movement of Pakistan diplomats in Washington. But the US State Department has denied imposing any such travel curbs.
Contrary to reports that the US might impose travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats from May 1, the Voice of America says the US State Department confirmed via email that “no restrictions on travel for Pakistani diplomats in the United States”.
The Indian media reported that Donald Trump-administration had taken the decision after Pakistan lodged strong protest with US over killing of a Pakistani student by American military attaché in Islamabad in a road accident.
Pakistan’s embassy in Washington told VOA on Tuesday that it had received no information about such restrictions.
It was reported that if sanctions were imposed, Pakistani staffers would be allowed to travel only in 40-kilometer radius of embassy whereas formal permission would be required to travel the distance surpassing the limit, the report says.
Earlier, US Ambassador David Hale was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a strong protest was lodged by Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on the tragic death of the motorcyclist and serious injury to the co-rider in the traffic accident that involved a US diplomat.
The US Ambassador expressed his “deep sympathy and sadness over the loss of life” and assured that the embassy would fully cooperate in the investigation.
Read: US ambassador summoned over killing of biker in road accident
The foreign secretary conveyed that justice will take its course in accordance with the law of the land and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961.
On April 7, a motorcyclist was killed while his pillion passenger injured after being hit by a fast-moving SUV driven by US defence and air attaché Colonel Joseph Emanuel. The police released him after recording his statement.
The deceased was identified as 22-year-old Ateeq Baig, while the injured was his cousin Raheem Ahmed.
A first information report (FIR) was registered against the diplomat at Kohsar police station on the complaint of Baig’s father.
The FIR said the envoy violated a traffic signal and rammed into a motorcycle near Maraghzar Zoo at around 3 pm which caused the death of Baig and injured his cousin Ahmed.
State Department Denies Reports on Travel Curbs for Pakistani Diplomats
Last Updated: April 10, 2018 11:40 PM
A portion of the home page of the Embassy of Pakistan, showing the embassy building in Washington.
The U.S. State Department has confirmed via email that there are "no restrictions on travel for Pakistani diplomats in the United States" despite reports that they will soon be subjected to new travel restrictions.
Pakistani and Indian media had earlier reported that the Trump administration has notified Pakistani authorities that diplomats at the country's U.S. embassy and consulates will not be able to travel more than 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) from their posts without permission. The reports indicate the measures are expected to take effect in May.
Pakistan's embassy in Washington told VOA on Tuesday that it had received no information about such restrictions.
The reports came amid heightened tensions between Islamabad in Washington over the war in Afghanistan and long-standing U.S. concerns about the Pakistani military's ties to the Taliban and other militant groups.
Last week, a U.S. defense attache at the U.S. mission in Islamabad was involved in a traffic accident that killed a motorcyclist. Pakistani authorities have pressed for the attache, Colonel Joseph Emanuel Hall, to stand trial. The U.S. Embassy has said it is cooperating in the probe.
VOA's Urdu service contributed to this report.
https://www.voanews.com/a/united-st...travel-curbs-pakistani-diplomats/4341207.html