Exemptions lifted: American cargo to undergo scanning at Pakistani airports

Islamabad [Pakistan], May 12 (ANI): As Pakistan imposed new travel restrictions on the United States diplomats, the American cargo would now have to undergo scanning at Pakistani airports.
The removal of various exemptions, and the imposition on movements was taken in a tit-for-tat move after the Trump administration had earlier decided to impose travel restrictions on the Pakistani diplomats in the US.
Also the US diplomats cannot use tinted glass on official vehicles and rented transport. Further, the embassy has been barred from using non-diplomatic number plates on their vehicles.
In addition to this, the diplomats can no longer use unregistered mobile SIMs and hold multiple passports.
According to a notification, tweeted by Hassan Akbar, a Pakistan-based foreign affairs expert, a number of such exemptions and restrictions came into effect on Friday following US travel restrictions, which also came into force yesterday.
"As #US places travel restrictions on #Pakistan's diplomats, the #ForeignOffice is set to lift special exemptions enjoyed by #USembassy in Islamabad including exemption from cargo scanning, use of unregistered car plates and SIMs, renting safe houses without NOC etc," he tweeted.

As #US places travel restrictions on #Pakistan's diplomats, the #ForeignOffice is set to lift special exemptions enjoyed by #USembassy in Islamabad including exemption from cargo scanning, use of unregistered car plates and SIMs, renting safe houses without NOC etc. List below. pic.twitter.com/nF6dkFezdr

— Hassan Akbar (@hass_akbr) May 11, 2018

As reported by the Pakistan's News International on Thursday, the Trump's administration decided that the officials of the Pakistan Embassy and four consulates are required to get permission from the State Department five days before going beyond the set limits.
The decision was taken after Trump's administration turned around Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani aka Abdul Wali on the UNSC sanctions committee's list.
Pakistan had earlier attacked the United States saying that the top militant leaders are residing inside Afghanistan under the full view of NATO and the US troops.
Following this allegation, Trump's administration turned down Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani also known as Abdul Wali, a terrorist listed on the UNSC sanctions committee's list.
Pakistan has also decided that from May 11, restrictions will be imposed on all American diplomats and their movements.
The US fired back saying that Pakistani diplomats in Washington D.C. would be facing similar restrictions.
It has been further reported that back-door negotiations are underway between the two countries.
Pakistan also clarified for not allowing Pakhtun Afghan refugees in the PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement) rallies.
Earlier in April this year, the United States and Pakistan had faced tensions over visa policy.
As reported by the Dawn, Pakistan had received a notification by the US imposing restrictions on the movement of the Pakistani diplomats as they would need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 25 miles radius.
On the other hand, the US officials, in discussion with their Pakistani counterparts, argued that Islamabad had already slapped similar restrictions on its diplomats, who are barred from travelling to Karachi and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
The tensions had escalated to an extent that the US had introduced short duration visas to the Pakistani officials. (ANI)