WASHINGTON: The United States and Pakistan diplomatic row may worsen incoming days as both countries may impose restrictions on each othersdiplomats.
Pakistan and US are engaged in a diplomatic dispute which — despite denialsfrom both sides — could lead to strict restrictions on the movement oftheir diplomats.
The Trump administration has notified Pakistani authorities that diplomatsat their embassy in Washington and at consulates in other cities will notbe able to travel beyond 40km from their posts without permission.
The notice, shared with the Pakistan Embassy in Washington and sent also tothe Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, indicates that therestrictions could be imposed from May 1, if certain issues remainedunresolved.
Both sides clarify it has nothing to do with the accident when a diplomatran a red light and killed a motorcyclist in Islamabad
The US State Department in an email reply to leading English Daily hassaid: “I can confirm that there are no restrictions on travel for Pakistanidiplomats in the United States.”
Asked if those restrictions could be imposed in the near future, the USofficial said: “Beyond that, we have nothing to announce at this time.”
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Embassy also gave almost an identicalresponse, saying that so far there were no restrictions on the movement ofPakistani diplomats in the US, but the embassy had no information aboutfuture restrictions.
The issue was also raised at the Tuesday afternoon news briefing at theState Department where spokesperson Heather Nauert simply said: “I don’thave anything for you on that.”