WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s United States (US) Deputy Chief of Mission RizwanSaeed Sheikh on Saturday said that he hopes the United States wouldreconsider restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in the country.
“I hope the US reconsiders movement restrictions imposed on us [Pakistanidiplomats],” Sheikh said while speaking to a private TV channel.
Last month, the Trump administration communicated to the Pakistanigovernment that its officials working in the US could face restrictions intheir travel if similar limitations on American diplomats in Pakistan arenot eased up.
However, Sheikh upheld that the Pakistani government had devised a systemfor US officials to register their complaints through the Foreign Office inIslamabad.
“We had proposed that there should be a system so the complaints of USofficials could be addressed.”
Sheikh continued, “The system was put in place a month ago, however, todate no complaint has been launched by US officials which shows that theyare satisfied.”
“Pakistan had to take unusual measures owing to the security situation inthe country,” he said while defending Islamabad’s restrictions on USdiplomats.
“The security of foreign diplomats is Pakistan’s top priority,” Sheikhupheld.
On May 11, Pakistan responded in kind to US travel restrictions on itsdiplomatic staff and their families.
Pakistan’s Ambassador in the US Aizaz Chaudhry had said that from May 11,Pakistani diplomatic staff and their families would need permission atleast five days in advance if they need to travel outside of the imposed 25miles radius.
Reacting to the movement ban, the Foreign Office (FO) unveiled a set ofchanges in the government’s dealing with US diplomats in the countrythrough a notification.
The FO said American diplomats will also have to take prior permission totravel — something which was earlier done only in special cases —, will notbe afforded the luxury of ‘fast-track’ luggage clearance at airports, willnot be allowed to have more than one passport and will stay in the countrystrictly as per their visa date.
Moreover, the FO said the diplomats will not be allowed to use tinted glasson their vehicles, which was allowed as a protection measure, anddiplomatic licence plates on unauthorised vehicles. Additionally,non-diplomatic number plates given to conceal diplomatic status forprotection will also be taken back.
Similarly, all mobile phones used by US diplomats will be biometricallyverified while they will have to obtain a government no-objectioncertificate to shift and use rented houses and to install radiocommunication at their residences or safehouses.
The FO clarified that the measures are a response to the US decisionlimiting their diplomats’ movement in America.