ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in contact with United States authorities regarding the suspension of immigrant visa processing and hopes that routine services will resume soon, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said on Thursday. His remarks came after the US State Department ordered an indefinite pause on immigrant visa processing for applicants from 75 countries, including Pakistan, effective January 21, 2026.
In a post on X, the State Department said the decision was taken because migrants from these countries were drawing welfare benefits at what it described as “unacceptable rates.” The freeze, it added, would remain in place until Washington could ensure that new immigrants would not place a financial burden on the American public.
Addressing the weekly press briefing in Islamabad, Andrabi said the Foreign Office had taken note of a brief statement issued by the US State Department, describing it as part of an internal review process.“We are in touch with US authorities to ascertain further details. This is an evolving situation that we are closely following,” he said. “We understand this is an internal and ongoing review of US immigration policy, and we hope that routine processing of immigrant visas will resume soon.”
During the briefing, the spokesperson also rejected allegations made by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, calling them baseless and politically motivated. General Dwivedi had claimed that Pakistan was behind “drone intrusions,” stating that at least eight drones had been sighted since Saturday. He made the remarks at an annual press conference on January 13.
Responding to the claims, Andrabi said India’s narrative was old, conventional, and misleading. “Such allegations are damaging to India’s own credibility,” he said. He further stated that there was “undeniable evidence” of India’s financing and facilitation of terrorism in Pakistan, adding that India-backed terrorist networks had been identified in the region, including in Afghanistan.
