This is apropos aBusiness Recorder news item "FO gives cautious response to new US visa policy" carried by the newspaper yesterday. According to it, the Foreign Office has given a cautious response to new visa policy of Trump administration imposing travel ban on seven Muslim countries, saying countries need to adopt policies that are not susceptible to be exploited by entities wishing to see cracks in the coalition against terrorism along religious lines.
"While, it's every country's sovereign right to decide its immigration policy, however, such decisions are not without humanitarian and political dimensions that need to be looked at and considered in going forward. Countries would be well advised to adopt policies that are not susceptible to be exploited as propaganda tools by entities wishing to see cracks in the coalition against extremism and terrorism along religious lines," Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, the US embassy in Islamabad has reportedly clarified reports of Pakistan after the recent development in which newly-elected American President Donald Trump imposed travel restrictions on seven Muslim countries.
"The US embassy spokesperson stated that Pakistan is not being considered for visa ban as of yet," according to the embassy.
There is little or no doubt about the fact that the Trump administration is certainly mulling taking a similar action against Pakistan as well. It may have deferred it at this point in time mainly because of US troops' presence in Afghanistan. Pakistan is no Somalia, Libya, Yemen, Iraq or Syria; it is a nuclear power with a population of 200 million people.
Moreover, it is destined to play highly important role in the global economic growth activities as part of China's 'One Belt, One Road' project through China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Pakistan is no banana republic; nor is it a satellite state. It's a country that cannot be dismissed out of hand by any US administration. Despite his growing eccentricities Donald Trump strongly appreciates these facts. Doesn't he?