Pakistani envoy Ahsan Wagan recently faced an unexpected roadblock on his unofficial visit to Los Angeles, when he was refused entry into America.
Wagan, who is Pakistan's current Ambassador to Turkmenistan, was said to have been detained by U.S. immigration officials upon landing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) even though he had a valid visa and the necessary travel documents.
Not only was he denied entry, but he was also deported back to his point of last departure, a decision that has sparked interest given that diplomats are generally accorded immunity and special privileges under international law. It is still uncertain whether he had produced a diplomatic or an ordinary passport when he underwent the immigration procedure.
Pakistani news reports suggest that the deportation of Wagan was not connected with any diplomatic tensions or policy issues. The episode, however, has generated controversy in Pakistan's diplomatic community.
Even though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is yet to make an official announcement, the Foreign Office is reportedly dealing with the issue in an urgent manner. Senior officials such as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch have been informed about the situation, and Pakistan's Consulate in Los Angeles has been assigned to look into the matter further.
It is reported that Wagan can be called to Islamabad at any moment to explain. His rejection at the American border is said to be connected with charges of administrative misconduct when he was in his earlier diplomatic assignment in the United States. He was serving as Deputy Consul General at Pakistan's Los Angeles Consulate and seems to have come under American officials' scrutiny.
Although these claims have not been made public, Pakistani media asserts they were responsible for his immigration issues. His name had been reported in the U.S. immigration system because of "controversial visa references," The News International reports. Although American officials have been mum on the issue, neither the U.S. State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security has made an official statement, according to Aaj TV.
Wagan, who has had important diplomatic roles in the U.S. and Oman in the past, was posted as Pakistan's ambassador to Turkmenistan only six months ago. His diplomatic career has seen him serve as the second secretary at Pakistan's Embassy in Kathmandu, deputy head of mission in Muscat, and director general of the Foreign Ministry's Crisis Management Unit.
For his work, Wagan was shortlisted for Pakistan's Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the nation's second-highest civilian award, in 2017. Political analyst Ali Chisti meanwhile had termed the event "a rare slap to a serving envoy" and commentator Ayesha Siddiqa had noted on 'X' that Pakistan's reaction could be as simple as an inquiry instead of a forceful diplomatic protest.
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