FM request for visas denied by US Embassy

Believe it or not, the Embassy of the United States in Islamabad has refused to issue visas to close family relatives of Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. This was revealed by Ishaq Khan Khakwani, a leader of the ruling Pakistani Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) in a tweet on Wednesday.

Mr. Khakwani said that the Pakistan-US diplomatic relations are at the lowest ebb and added that Shah Mahmood Qureshi had requested an early visa appointment which was denied by American Embassy.

Pak US relations at lowest ebb. FM SMQ request for early Visa appointment for close family members denied by US Embassy Islambad. Top Diplomat treated in this manner never heard of in worst of times.

— Ishaq Khan Khakwani (@khakwan) June 30, 2021

Mr. Khakwani said the top diplomat at the level of Foreign Minister treated in this manner was never heard in the worst times.

It may be recalled that such treatment to a high-level Pakistani leader by the American is not surprising. Such an embarrassing situation arose when post 9/11, a visiting Pakistani Prime Minister was subjected to a physical search at the airbase when his flight landed.