41 countries including Pakistan likely to face US travel restrictions

The Trump administration is considering imposing travel restrictions on 41 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan, as part of an effort to curb illegal immigration, according to a draft proposal. This move is expected to be broader than the previous travel ban imposed during Trump’s first term, which targeted seven predominantly Muslim nations. Under the new proposal, Pakistan is among the 26  countries that could face a partial suspension of US visa issuance if the Shahbaz Sharif-led government does not address ‘deficiencies’ identified by officials within 60 days. 

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Other nations in this group include Turkmenistan, Belarus, Bhutan and Vanuatu, which has gained attention recently after fugitive Lalit Modi claimed to have acquired citizenship there. However, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed these reports as ‘speculative’, stressing that no official communication has been received regarding a potential ban. 

The draft also lists a ‘Red List’ of 10 countries which include Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, whose citizens would face a full suspension of U.S. visas. Additionally, five other countries which include Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan would see restrictions on tourist, student, and immigrant visas.

This new wave of restrictions builds on an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, which mandated thorough vetting of foreign nationals to address potential security threats. The U.S. government continues to review the list of affected countries, and the policy remains subject to further approval.