By Our Diplomatic Correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in touch with the US officials on the suspension of immigrant visa processing, hoping that the process “will resume soon,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday.
The statement comes as US State Department has ordered an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries including Pakistan, effective January 21, 2026.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates,” the department said in a post on X.
It added that the freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people.
Addressing a weekly briefing in Islamabad today, the spokesperson said that Foreign Office had also seen a “brief statement” issued by the US State Department about an internal review.
He added that Pakistan is in touch with US authorities to seek further details, describing the situation as evolving.
“We are in touch with US authorities to ascertain further details … this is an evolving news that we are following. We understand this is internal ongoing process of review of US immigration. (We) hope that routine processing of immigrant visa will resume soon.”
Meanwhile, speaking on US-Iran tensions, the FO spokesperson said that Pakistan is closely monitoring the ongoing developments in Tehran.
He said that Iran is Pakistan’s neighbouring country as well as an important member of the international community.
“Pakistan hopes that peace and stability will prevail in Iran,” he said, while reaffirming support for all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the situation.
“We want to see Iran as a friend and brotherly country, peaceful and prosperous,” Andrabi noted.
Indian Army’s allegations ‘baseless’
The spokesperson also rejected baseless allegations levelled by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, terming them baseless and politically motivated.
The rebuttal came against remarks made by General Dwivedi, who had accused Pakistan of “drone intrusions”, saying that at least eight drones had been sighted since Saturday.
“These drones, I believe, were defensive drones, which want to go up and see if any action was being taken,” the general told reporters at an annual press conference on January 13.
Expanding on the Indian Army chief’s allegations, Andrabi said that New Delhi’s rhetoric is old, conventional, and misleading. “Such allegations are damaging India’s own reputation,” the spokesperson remarked.
“There is undeniable evidence of India’s financing and facilitation of terrorism in Pakistan, and India-backed terrorist networks have been identified in the region, including Afghanistan,” he added.
