Pakistan Seeks to Prevent US Travel Restrictions, Khawaja Asif Says Efforts Underway

Asif Denies Link Between Sharifullah Extradition and Jaffar Express Hijacking

By DTD- On Mar 15, 2025

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday addressed concerns regarding the potential imposition of travel restrictions by the United States on Pakistan, calling it an “inappropriate” move by the Trump administration. Asif stated that the federal government was working diligently to resolve the issue, which he believed would be settled within the next week to ten days.

Speaking to Geo News, Asif confirmed that the government had raised the issue at the highest level and was actively engaging with relevant authorities to prevent any travel bans. According to sources and an internal memo obtained by Reuters, the Trump administration is considering travel restrictions for citizens from multiple countries, including Pakistan, under a new policy. The restrictions could involve a partial suspension of US visa issuance for countries that do not make efforts to address deficiencies within a 60-day period.

Pakistan has been placed in the third group of countries, which includes Belarus and Turkmenistan, and would face a partial suspension of US visas if improvements are not made by the respective governments. The first group, which includes countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face a complete visa suspension. Meanwhile, the second group, which includes Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would face partial suspensions impacting tourist, student, and immigrant visas.

Asif also addressed questions related to the recent Jaffar Express hijacking incident and the extradition of Sharifullah, a Daesh-Khorasan operative responsible for the deaths of 13 US service members in Afghanistan in 2021. Asif dismissed any connection between Sharifullah’s extradition and the hijacking, adding that terrorists may be upset with Pakistan’s actions in this regard.

In his remarks, the minister also criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for propagating on the hijacking incident. He pointed out that PTI founder Imran Khan had yet to condemn the tragedy, implying that Khan’s silence suggested his alignment with terrorist groups. Asif further criticized PTI’s stance, claiming the party’s motto had become “No Pakistan if there is no Khan.”

Additionally, the defence minister mentioned PTI’s conditional participation in the upcoming all-parties conference (APC), highlighting their demand for Imran Khan’s inclusion in the talks.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier urged all political parties to come together and develop a unified strategy to combat terrorism and ensure economic stability in the country. The prime minister also announced plans to hold a meeting with political stakeholders following consultations on the matter.