Pak, US decide to resolve visa row

Islamabad, May 18 (ANI): Both Pakistan and United States have reportedly agreed to resolve all issues concerning the delay in issuing visas to each other's diplomats.

According to sources, senior officials of both countries met each other at the Foreign Office here last week to resolve the visa row as soon as possible.

During the meeting both sides decided that no delay would be made in issuing visas from now, The News quoted sources privy to the meeting, as saying.

The United States had told Pakistan to put in place a uniform visa mechanism so that its diplomats and embassy staff stationed in Islamabad do not face any difficulty in carrying out their work in the country.

Delay in issuing visas to US officials has affected the relationship between the two countries.

Angered over Islamabad's stubborn attitude over the issue, the Obama Administration had linked the reimbursement of funds under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) with issuance of visas to US auditors and other officials.

Pakistan has so far received 700 million dollars of the 2.6 billion dollars claimed under the CSF over the last two years, and is claiming another 1.2 billion dollars under the aid.

Pakistan has long been demanding an early release of the funds, however, the White House had made it clear that it would release the remaining amount only after being assured of positive use of the financial package.

The US also linked the delay in the disbursement of funds to Pakistan's denial to grant visas to American auditors.

Arm-twisting Pakistan over the delay in issuing visas to its auditors, the United States had told Islamabad that the remaining payment under the CSF would only be released after the American officials get their visas. (ANI)