**US Travel Ban: Pakistan Among Countries Under Consideration**
**(Image: The provided image with the caption “US travel ban Pakistan”)**
The United States administration is reportedly considering a significant travel ban that could impact citizens from dozens of countries, including Pakistan. Sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters reveal that the potential ban is part of a new, sweeping measure.
The memo outlines a total of 41 countries, categorized into three groups. Pakistan is placed in the third group, facing a potential partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance. This would occur if the Pakistani government does not address unspecified “deficiencies” within a 60-day period.
The first group, comprised of 10 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face a complete visa suspension.
The second group of five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—would experience partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and some immigrant visas, with certain exceptions.
The third group, where Pakistan is listed alongside 25 other nations like Belarus and Turkmenistan, faces the same 60-day deadline to address “deficiencies” or risk a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, cautioned that the list is subject to change and has not yet received final approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The New York Times initially reported on this list of countries.
This potential move echoes former President Donald Trump’s 2018 travel ban, which initially targeted seven Muslim-majority nations and was eventually upheld by the Supreme Court.
The current consideration stems from a January 20 executive order by Trump, calling for intensified security vetting of foreign nationals entering the U.S. to identify national security threats. The order mandated a list of countries with deficient “vetting and screening information” to be submitted by March 21, for which travel could be partially or fully suspended.
This directive is part of a broader immigration crackdown initiated by Trump at the beginning of his second term. In an October 2023 speech, he indicated plans to restrict entry from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other locations deemed security threats.
The State Department has not yet provided a comment to Reuters regarding this matter.