Pakistan in Contact with US Authorities on Immigrant Visas, Processing Expected to Resume Soon: FO
Islamabad: The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday said Pakistan is in contact with US authorities regarding the processing of American immigrant visas and expressed hope that the routine online processing of immigrant visas will be restored soon.
During the weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan is closely monitoring developments related to the situation in Iran. He reiterated that Pakistan supports all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the situation and hopes that peace and stability will prevail in Iran.
The spokesperson said Iran is Pakistan’s neighboring country and an important member of the international community. “Pakistan wants to see Iran as a peaceful, prosperous friend and brotherly country. The people of Pakistan and Iran share deep historical, cultural, and religious ties, and a stable Iran is in Pakistan’s interest,” he added.
Commenting on recent protests in Iran, Andrabi said they stem from economic hardships faced by ordinary citizens, but expressed hope that the economic relief measures announced by the Iranian government would ease public difficulties. He said Iran is a resilient nation that has overcome many challenges in the past, adding that Pakistan has full confidence in the wisdom of the Iranian people and leadership to emerge stronger from the current situation.
The FO spokesperson further stated that Pakistan has reiterated its travel advisory, urging Pakistani citizens traveling to Iran to exercise extreme caution and follow safety measures. He added that the Pakistani embassy in Tehran remains fully active to assist Pakistani nationals, with the ambassador and his team playing an effective role in ensuring their safety.
Regarding the suspension of US immigrant visa processing, the spokesperson said Pakistan views it as an internal review of US immigration policies and is in regular contact with American officials. “We hope that normal online processing of US immigrant visas will resume shortly,” he said.
Rejecting allegations made by the Indian Army Chief, the FO spokesperson termed India’s accusations of terrorism against Pakistan as baseless and politically motivated. He said Pakistan’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism are internationally acknowledged, adding that such allegations damage India’s own credibility.
He further claimed that India-backed terrorist networks have been identified in the region, including in Afghanistan, and alleged that instances of extrajudicial killings and state-sponsored terrorism by India are on record. He urged India to refrain from provocative statements, warning that rising extremism and religiously motivated violence in India pose a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
