The US Embassy on Thursday said that some media outlets have mischaracterised statements by US Ambassador Cameron Munter at the University of Sindh on May 10 to imply that individuals with certain names are not eligible for US visas.
"This is patently false. It is specifically untrue that the Ambassador in any way denigrated names with religious derivations. As the Ambassador's visit that same day to the Bhit Shah shrine demonstrated, he and the United States have a great respect for all religious faiths, including Islam", a statement issued by the US Embassy here on Thursday said.
"The United States encourages bona fide tourists, businessmen /women, and students to apply for the appropriate visa. We believe that people-to-people connections foster greater mutual understanding for both Americans and Pakistanis. "All visa applications are adjudicated as quickly and fairly as possible, in line with applicable US law and regulation", the statement added.