Pakistan slaps curbs on US diplomats

Pakistani authorities have slapped travel restrictions on US diplomats and other embassy officials, after several US diplomats were found travelling illegally in sensitive areas of the country, Iran's IRNA news agency reported, citing TV channels reports Friday night. All US diplomats and foreign embassy officials are now required to get special No Objection Certificate for travelling to other Pakistani cities, Geo television reported. Pakistani authorities imposed travel curbs on US diplomats a few days ago, according to the report. The same curbs would also apply on other diplomats, Geo reported while quoting unspecified sources. The US administration has already issued warnings to Pakistani diplomats. The US has also slapped similar curbs on Pakistani diplomats and embassy staffers in the US, the report said. There was no official word and reaction from the US embassy. The reports came days after authorities in northwest Pakistan sent back to Islamabad several US diplomats who did not have special permission to visit the area, police said. Two groups of US diplomats were sent back from areas in the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province, this month, according to local media. All foreigners are required to have special permission to enter the northwest and southwestern Balochistan province, officials say. The reports came at a time when relations between the US and Pakistan have deteriorated after this month blockade of US$800 military aid. US officials have been quoted as saying that the payment has been deferred after Pakistan withdrew over 100 US military trainers and refused to grant visas to US intelligence operatives. The decision was also aimed at mounting pressure on Islamabad to take more steps against the Taliban and al-Qaeda militants. Geo TV reported that US has already imposed travel restrictions on diplomats of five countries -- Iran, Russia, Libya, Syria and North Korea.