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Former Pakistan’s envoy to the United States, Hussain Haqqani, clarified the nature of recent US visa restrictions. He stated that the United States has not singled out Pakistan. The move is administrative, not political. The US visa freeze announcement was made right after the World Liberty Financial (WLF) talks. Netizens didn’t hold back their frustration against the Trump Administration and called President Trump untrustworthy. It seemed as if the crypto diplomacy had failed moments after commencement.
Haqqani spoke during an interview with a private news channel on Thursday. Haqqani explained:
Pakistan is not the only country on that list.
He noted that the list includes 75 countries. Furthermore, many of these nations are US allies. Some even maintain close personal ties to Donald Trump.
The Reason Behind the Pause
The US State Department recently announced a pause on immigrant visa processing. This freeze targets countries whose migrants allegedly use American welfare at “unacceptable rates”.
According to the State Department, the freeze will remain active indefinitely. The administration wants to ensure new immigrants do not extract wealth from the American people. The State Department said in a statement:
We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused.
Haqqani echoed this sentiment. He stated that the US administration is currently implementing a system to prevent this alleged abuse. Haqqani added:
The basis for this is that people from these countries, after obtaining green cards or immigration status, try to access America’s social security system.
Impacts of US Visa Freeze & Official Response
Haqqani emphasised that this decision does not target opponents while sparing friends. However, he admitted the timeline remains unclear. He said:
We need to understand that this is an attempt to stop people from taking unfair advantage of the American system by settling there.
Despite the administrative framing, analysts fear significant economic consequences for Pakistan. The broader impact could hit remittances and trade linkages hard. Additionally, the freeze threatens skilled labour mobility and diaspora-led investment, which are vital for the local economy.
Meanwhile, the government is taking action. Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed on Thursday that Pakistan is in contact with US authorities regarding the issue.
