Summary The Pakistani diplomats could travel in the US without any hurdle.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Days after successful visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the US, Washington on Wednesday lifted restrictions on the movement of Pakistani diplomats and officials in the United States (US).
According to diplomatic sources, the foreign office and Pakistani diplomatic officials have been informed about the decision. The Pakistani diplomatic staff had to take permission at least five days ahead from the US authorities if they needed to travel outside of the imposed 25 miles radius. Now, the Pakistani diplomats could travel in the US without any hurdle, sources said.
Earlier in May last year, the United States imposed travel restrictions on and limit the movement of Pakistani diplomats, after negotiations by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs managed to delay the restrictions from the earlier May 1 date.
The limitations had been applied at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, as well as its four consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Texas and Chicago. The US government has sent an official notice in this regard to the Pakistani embassy.
According to details, the movement of Pakistani diplomatic staff s limited to 40 kilometres from the designated consulate. The diplomats were required to ask for special permission at least five days before travelling beyond 40 kilometres.
The development came amid escalating hostile relations between US and Pakistan, which were once allies in war on terror.
Later, in a tit for tat move, Pakistan had placed travel restrictions on United States diplomats based in the country, the latest in a series of retaliatory measures that threaten to plunge already strained relations to their worst level in years.
The restrictions were imposed on the same day that the United States barred diplomats working at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington from traveling outside of a 25-mile radius around the city without approval.
