Washington: The United States has expressed serious concerns with Pakistani authorities over the "unjustifiable" and "inordinate" delay, running into months, in issuing visas to hundreds of its staff and contractors,
which it said greatly hamper its humanitarian work and counter-terrorism measures in Pakistan.
At a time, when the Obama Administration has gone out
of its way to ensure smooth passage of USD 7.5 billion
civilian aid to Pakistan in the next five years, ignoring
strong concerns by several lawmakers; the State Department
officials are fuming at Islamabad at the "excuses" being given
by its authorities regarding issuance of visas.
"Hundreds of visa applications and renewals have been
put on hold, and we are not satisfied with the answers we are
getting.
"The excuses are that we are trying to move these as
quickly as we can. But that is not happening. I am sure.
I know that that is not happening," a senior State Department
official told reporters on condition of anonymity.
However, the official declined to characterise this
latest development as a breakdown in relationship between the
two countries.
Given the complexity of relationship between US and
Pakistan, the senior official termed it as a "bump in the
road".
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 18, 2009, 10:14