Huge embarrassment for Pakistan: US to impose parole-like movement restrictions on Pak diplomats

Continuing the global crackdown on Pakistan and its terrorism exports, the United States has decided to impose travel restrictions on and limit the movement of Pakistani diplomats.

As per sources, the decision will be implemented on Friday (May 11), after negotiations by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) managed to delay the restrictions from the earlier May 1 date.

The limitations will be implemented at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington, as well as its four consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Texas and Chicago. Accordingly, Pakistani diplomatic staff's movement will be limited to 25 miles from the designated consulate. The diplomats will be required to ask for special permission at least five days before travelling beyond 25 miles.

The US government has sent an official notice in this regard to the Pakistani embassy, as per sources, while the Pakistani MoFA has maintained that the issue is being discussed between the two countries and that it will be resolved amicably.

The embarrassment to India's terror-friendly neighbour is the latest in a long line of such crackdowns that have been a consistent theme of 2018 so far.

One of US President Donald Trump's first tweets of the year was a motion to cut all military aid to Pakistan 

Other steps in this regard included Pakistan being placed on international anti-money laundering watchdog FATF's terror funding watch-list.