A top Pakistani diplomat, Ambassador to Turkmenistan Ahsan Waga, was denied entry into the United States of America (USA) and deported despite having a valid visa. According to reports, he was detained and then deported from the airport.
Ambassador Ahsan Waga was deported from the Los Angeles Airport. The diplomat was visiting the US on a private trip when American immigration authorities stopped him. The reason behind his deportation is unclear however, media reports claimed that he was denied entry due to corruption charges during his previous posting in the US.
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Ahsan Waga has served in key diplomatic positions. His previous positions include minister/charge d’affaires in Niamey, Niger; deputy consul general in Los Angeles; deputy chief of mission and then ambassador in Muscat, Oman; and second secretary at the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu.
Regarding the incident, the Foreign Office of Pakistan has released a statement in which it informed that Ahsan Waga was on a private visit to the USA. As per media reports, the investigation is underway, and the diplomat has been called to the Foreign Office for an explanation on the incident.
His deportation comes amid speculations on travel ban on Pakistan by Trump administration, as the new government seeks to tighten laws on immigration.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed a Pakistani national, Syed Rizvi, 56, from the country on February 25 after classifying him as a national security priority. Rizvi was residing in Dallas, Texas, without authorization and was ordered to be deported under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In a similar move last month, the US deported 119 people of different nationalities to Panama, including Pakistanis. Additionally, the Trump administration is considering expanding its travel ban, potentially barring people from Pakistan from entering the US. According to sources familiar with the matter, the government is reviewing security and vetting risks in several countries, with Pakistan reportedly under scrutiny.