Pakistan imposes restrictions on US diplomats in tit-for-tat move

Reciprocating United States move of imposing travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats, Pakistan too has also restricted American diplomats from traveling without prior permission.

According to local media reports, the Foreign Ministry (FO) has issued a notification that mentions some changes that have been made in their dealing with the American diplomats. These changes will be implemented from Friday (today).

According to the FO, American diplomats would not be allowed to travel without permission. The diplomats will not be given more than one passport and will have to stay in the country as per their visa date.

The diplomats will not be given the special treatment in the airport of having 'fast-track' luggage clearance at airports. The diplomats who were given the non-diplomatic number plates to conceal diplomatic status for protection would also be taken back. The diplomats will not be allowed to use tinted glass on their vehicles.

Similarly, the diplomats will have to obtain a government no-objection certificate to use rented houses. They will also have to bio-metrically verify their mobile phone sims.

The new rules have come after US implemented travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats on Friday. As per the new restrictions, Pakistani diplomats living there cannot travel beyond 25 miles of the city they are posted.