US Imposes Travel Restrictions On Pakistani Embassy Diplomats; Pak Responds With Tit-For-Tat Action

After United States (US) imposed travel restrictions on Pakistan’s Washington embassy officials, Pakistan has responded with similar restrictions on all American diplomats anywhere in the country, the New York Times has reported.

While the restrictions imposed on Pakistani diplomats in the US bar them from moving out of a 25-mile radius around the city, the Pakistani restrictions go a step further barring US diplomats from having tinted windows on embassy cars and diplomatic plates on their personal vehicles.

“We have received official notification of new restrictions placed on U.S. diplomats in Pakistan,” said Gregory McLean, a US Department spokesman.

US had imposed the travel restrictions after complaints from diplomats in the US embassy in Islamabad that they and their staff were frequently harassed by Pakistani officials.

Although the state department officials have denied to comment on it, there is a possibility of the US imposing even stronger restrictions on the Pakistani diplomats after the Pakistani response.

The moves come on the heels of deteriorating ties between the two countries since US President Donald Trump assumed power in 2017. Trump wants more accountability from Pakistan on the anti-terrorism front and has frequently targeted Pakistan on social media.