The US said on Thursday that Pakistan had delayed issuing hundreds of visas for US contractors and officials, adding to tension between the key allies in the war on terrorism.
US State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood told reporters that the US government has raised its “serious concerns” at very senior levels with Pakistan, but added that the cause of the delays was “unclear.”
He said the delays, if they continue, could undermine US-backed efforts to fight terrorism and boost the economy in Pakistan, a nuclear-armed country struggling with a Taliban insurgency.
“Hundreds of visa applications and renewals for US officials and contractors are awaiting issuance by the Pakistani government,” Wood said. “We’ve had very serious concerns about these visa issues,” which have been a problem for months, Wood added. “We’ve raised it at very senior levels.”
Wood neither confirmed nor denied that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had herself raised the issue with senior Pakistani officials.
“But we’re committed to trying to work with Pakistan to make sure that we can get these visas and get on with the business of what we’re trying to do in Pakistan,” Wood said.
Islamabad’s ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, said the visa delays should not be considered Pakistani harassment, but a result of a surge in the number of US diplomats and experts coming to Islamabad and the need to comply with rules and procedures.
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