AI Generated Summary
- The State Department justifies the pause by invoking the “public charge” provision, claiming nationals from these countries are deemed likely to rely on public benefits, thus “extracting wealth from the American people.
- The military’s dominance in these dealings reflects Islamabad’s calculation that direct access to Trump could yield dividends in aid, investment, and diplomatic leverage—especially as Pakistan balances its deep ties with China.
- For ordinary Pakistanis dreaming of family reunification or a new life in the U.
The recent decision by the Trump administration to indefinitely suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026, underscores a harsh reality: diplomatic handshakes and high-profile meetings do not guarantee immunity from America’s sweeping immigration crackdown.
Pakistan is among 75 countries reportedly hit with an indefinite visa processing freeze by the Trump administration.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) January 14, 2026
The resurgence in Pakistan’s ties with the US apparently didn’t shield it from this.
Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal are also on the list.
Pakistan finds itself squarely on this list, alongside nations like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Russia, Somalia, Brazil, Egypt, and many others in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. The State Department justifies the pause by invoking the “public charge” provision, claiming nationals from these countries are deemed likely to rely on public benefits, thus “extracting wealth from the American people.” This blanket measure halts family reunification, employment-based green cards, and other pathways to permanent residency for affected applicants, while sparing non-immigrant visas (such as tourist or business ones) amid preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
For Pakistan, the inclusion stings particularly sharply. Over the past year, Islamabad has pursued a deliberate reset in ties with Washington under President Donald Trump’s second term. Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has emerged as the central figure in this outreach, cultivating an unusually personal rapport with Trump. Multiple meetings have taken place, including a landmark private White House lunch in June 2025—the first time a U.S. president hosted a Pakistani army chief alone, without civilian leaders. Subsequent engagements, including joint appearances with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have spotlighted economic cooperation, rare earth minerals, counterterrorism, and even Pakistan’s potential role in regional stabilization efforts like Gaza.
These interactions signaled a thaw after years of mutual distrust. Trump has praised Munir’s influence in averting escalations, and Pakistan has positioned itself as a pragmatic security partner, offering intelligence, military capabilities, and strategic resources. The military’s dominance in these dealings reflects Islamabad’s calculation that direct access to Trump could yield dividends in aid, investment, and diplomatic leverage—especially as Pakistan balances its deep ties with China.
Yet, when the visa suspension was announced on January 14, 2026, Pakistan was not spared. Despite the warm rhetoric and Oval Office photo ops, the policy treats Islamabad no differently from adversaries like Iran or Russia. This reveals the limits of personal diplomacy in the face of Trump’s ideological immigration agenda. The crackdown is not calibrated to reward allies; it is a broad, blunt instrument driven by domestic priorities—curtailing legal pathways to residency, reducing perceived welfare burdens, and fulfilling campaign promises to prioritize “America First.”
Pakistan’s resurgence in U.S. ties, while real in security and economic domains, has proven transactional and compartmentalized. Cooperation on counterterrorism or minerals does not translate to exemptions from immigration restrictions applied to dozens of developing nations. The move highlights how U.S. policy under Trump often overrides bilateral goodwill when it conflicts with core domestic imperatives.
For ordinary Pakistanis dreaming of family reunification or a new life in the U.S., the freeze is a bitter disappointment. It disrupts lives built on long waits and legal processes, adding uncertainty to an already fraught relationship.
