*ISLAMABAD- *Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had to undergo aroutine check at an airport in the US as he was on a private visit to thatcountry, a US official said on Thursday.

“My understanding is that if the head of state chooses to travel privatelywithout diplomatic passport, then they are travelling as a private citizen,then he would have to go through the same security screening that you and Iwill have to go,” Alexander McLaren, deputy spokesperson of the US Embassyin New Delhi, said during a media interaction.

“Obviously, an official visit is a different story,” he said.

A video that has gone viral on social media shows a casually-dressed Abbasiat the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York earlier this week.

He was picking up his coat and bag and walking away moments later.

According to Pakistani media reports, Abbasi travelled to the US to visithis ailing sister.