ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad on Thursday sought further details from Washington after the United States suspended the processing of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including Pakistan, but hoped the move is temporary.
Reacting to the US decision on immigrant visas, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan had taken note of “brief statements by the US State Department on their social media handle about the internal review of processing immigrant visas only”.
He stressed that Islamabad was in contact with US authorities to ascertain further details, describing the situation as “an evolving news, which we are following”.
The spokesperson underlined that Pakistan understood the move as part of an internal review of US immigration policies and systems. “We understand that this is an internal ongoing review process of US immigration policies and system and we hope that the routine processing of immigrant visas will resume soon.”
Addressing questions on why India was not included in the list, Andrabi avoided speculation, reiterating that Pakistan was awaiting formal clarification from Washington.
The visa suspension has caused concern among Pakistani applicants and comes despite recent high-level engagement between Islamabad and Washington.
Andrabi rejected suggestions that the development reflected a slowdown or strain in bilateral ties, noting the time difference between the two countries and maintaining that overall coordination with the United States remained “efficient”.
Alongside the visa issue, Pakistan is also assessing the implications of President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on countries and entities doing business with Iran.
Responding to multiple questions on whether Pakistan would be affected, the spokesperson said the announcement was still unfolding. “This is an evolving news,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s trade relations were conducted “in accordance with international trade regulations and international law”.
He emphasized that Islamabad remained engaged with US authorities on trade matters and highlighted the recent positive trajectory of bilateral trade talks.
“Pakistan has had very positive trade negotiations with the United States. We look forward to the successful culmination in reaching mutually beneficial trade agreements with the US side,” Andrabi said.
On Pakistan’s trade with Iran, estimated at around $3 billion, he maintained that it, too, followed international rules, and Islamabad would continue to engage both Washington and Tehran on the issue.
Andrabi said Pakistan was “closely following the developments related to the situation in Iran” and described Iran as “a neighboring country, an important member of the international community and global fraternity.”
“As a neighbour, friend and brotherly country, Pakistan wishes to see a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Iran,” he said, stressing that peace and stability in Iran were in Pakistan’s own interest.
He pointed to the “deep historical, cultural and religious bonds” between the two peoples and expressed confidence in Iran’s resilience.
Noting that recent protests were triggered by economic difficulties “further exacerbated by international sanctions”, the spokesperson said Pakistan hoped that relief measures announced by the Iranian government would ease public hardship.
“We have full confidence in the wisdom of the Iranian people and leadership, rooted in their rich culture, ancient civilization, history, and resilience, to address all the challenges confronting Iran,” Andrabi said.
He also reiterated a travel advisory for Pakistani citizens, urging caution and confirming that the embassy in Tehran was actively assisting nationals, including students who have returned safely in recent days.
On the Middle East, Pakistan welcomed the announcement by the US Special Envoy that the Gaza ceasefire was moving into a second phase focused on demilitarization, reconstruction, and technocratic governance.
Andrabi said Pakistan had remained engaged in the Gaza peace process “as part of the group of Arab-Islamic countries since the very beginning of the initiative in September 2025.”
He recalled that Pakistan supported both the Gaza Peace Plan and the subsequent UN Security Council resolution to save civilian lives, maintain the ceasefire, ensure large-scale humanitarian assistance, and secure the withdrawal of occupation forces from Gaza.
Calling the latest announcement a “developing story,” he said Islamabad hoped the next phase would lead to “further stabilization of the situation, and upscaling of the humanitarian assistance and end to the suffering of the Palestinians.”
At the same time, Pakistan reiterated its long-standing position that any peace process must culminate in a political settlement. Andrabi said Pakistan hoped these efforts would lead to “a credible, time-bound political process consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions to establish an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.” On the question of joining a proposed International Stabilization Force for Gaza, he said no decision had been taken and that the mandate of such a force had yet to be finalized.
