Pakistan rejects US visa sanctions reports

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

Pakistan rejected the media reports on U.S. visa sanctions on Islamabad and called them misleading information, a Foreign Ministry official said on Sunday.

"We have seen media reports about a U.S. Federal Registry notification on “introduction of new rules” on consular matters. The insinuations made in the media reports are misleading," Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Ministry spokesman, said in a statement.

Earlier on Sunday, several national and international media outlets reported that U.S. has imposed sanctions on Pakistan after Islamabad refused to take back its deported citizens and visa overstayers from Washington.

"There are ongoing discussions between Pakistan and the United States on consular matters including repatriation issues. Both countries are working bilaterally on these issues consistent with their respective laws and have made considerable progress," Faisal said.

We understand that the U.S. government would continue regular consular operations at their embassy in Islamabad, and the ongoing discussions would not affect visas procedures for routine Pakistani applicants, he added.