Pakistani diplomats have brought shame to their country again. A report claims that employees of Pakistani diplomatic mission in Geneva were forced to work without pay for "almost 20 years". The workers have now filed a complaint with the Office of the Public Prosecutor. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Pakistani diplomats in Switzerland didn't pay employees for "20 years"

The United States, in a retaliatory move, revoked tax relief given to Pakistani diplomats, sources said on Friday. The Diplomatic Tax Exemption programme for staff at the Pakistan Embassy provides sales and use, occupancy, food, airline, gas, and utility tax exemptions to eligible foreign officials on assignment in the US. The said facility is enjoyed by officials' dependents too.

This comes after Pakistan refused to give any tax exemption to the US diplomats in the country, said sources.

The exemption came into effect on May 20, and was done on a reciprocity basis, sources added.

A media report quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying on Thursday that there were pending tax exemption issues related to the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan.

However, the department said that both sides were in discussions and hoped to resolve the issue and restore the tax privileges.

The diplomatic tiff between Pakistan and US has been long ongoing after Pakistan refused to revoke the 25 miles travel radius ban to US diplomats last year. The United States in a tit-for-tat move slapped similiar restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in US.

The Pakistani authorities on May 2, 2018 in retaliation, further tightened the diplomatic immunity given the US mission in Pakistan.

The United States, in a retaliatory move, revoked tax relief given to Pakistani diplomats, sources said on Friday. The Diplomatic Tax Exemption programme for staff at the Pakistan Embassy provides sales and use, occupancy, food, airline, gas, and utility tax exemptions to eligible foreign officials on assignment in the US.

The United States, in a retaliatory move, revoked tax relief given to Pakistani diplomats, sources said on Friday. The Diplomatic Tax Exemption programme for staff at the Pakistan Embassy provides sales and use, occupancy, food, airline, gas, and utility tax exemptions to eligible foreign officials on assignment in the US. The said facility is enjoyed by officials' dependents too. This comes after Pakistan refused to give any tax exemption to the US diplomats in the country, said sources. The exemption came into effect on May 20, and was done on a reciprocity basis, sources added. A media report quoted a State Department spokesperson as saying on Thursday that there were pending tax exemption issues related to the US diplomatic mission in Pakistan. However, the department said that both sides were in discussions and hoped to resolve the issue and restore the tax privileges. The diplomatic tiff between Pakistan and US has been long ongoing after Pakistan refused to revoke the 25 miles travel radius ban to US diplomats last year. The United States in a tit-for-tat move slapped similiar restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in US. The Pakistani authorities on May 2, 2018 in retaliation, further tightened the diplomatic immunity given the US mission in Pakistan.

US revokes tax exemption for Pakistani diplomats: Sources 

Pakistan's Foreign Office has announced that all the United States diplomats in the country would face restrictions as part of which they will not be able to roam around freely from now.

As reported by Pakistan's News International on Thursday, the Trump's administration decided that the officials of the Pakistan Embassy and four consulates are required to get permission from the State Department five days before going beyond the set limits.

This comes after Trump's administration turned around Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani aka Abdul Wali on the UNSC sanctions committee's list.

Pakistan had earlier attacked the United States saying that the top militant leaders are residing inside Afghanistan under the full view of NATO and the US troops.

Following this allegation, Trump's administration turned down Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani also known as Abdul Wali, a terrorist listed on the UNSC sanctions committee's list.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman said, "We are deeply disappointed over the failure of the Sanctions Committee to list Wali who is a known terrorist and has the blood of hundreds of innocent Pakistanis on his hands".

He added if Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had been listed by the Sanctions Committee, then its leader should also have been listed.

He further accused the international bodies of having double standards in terms of fighting terrorism and disregarding Pakistan's sacrifices for curbing terrorism.

Pakistan has also decided that from May 11, restrictions will be imposed on all American diplomats and their movements.

The US fired back saying that Pakistani diplomats in Washington D.C. would be facing similar restrictions.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/washington-to-press-pause-button-on-aid-to-pakistan-us-sources-20462">Washington to press </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/washington-to-press-pause-button-on-aid-to-pakistan-us-sources-20462">pause</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/washington-to-press-pause-button-on-aid-to-pakistan-us-sources-20462"> button on aid to Pakistan, say US sources</a>

It has been further reported that back-door negotiations are underway between the two countries.

Pakistan also clarified for not allowing Pakhtun Afghan refugees in the PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement) rallies.

The Foreign Office spokesman said, "Refugees are not allowed to take part in political activities. Pakistan follows this policy for Afghan refugees as well."

Earlier in April this year, the United States and Pakistan had faced tensions over visa policy.

As reported by the Dawn, Pakistan had received a notification by the US imposing restrictions on the movement of the Pakistani diplomats as they would need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 25 miles radius.

On the other hand, the US officials, in discussion with their Pakistani counterparts, argued that Islamabad had already slapped similar restrictions on its diplomats, who are barred from travelling to Karachi and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The tensions had escalated to an extent that the US had introduced short duration visas to the Pakistani officials. (ANI)

The US fired back saying Pakistani diplomats in Washington DC would be facing similar restrictions

Pakistan's Foreign Office has announced that all the United States diplomats in the country would face restrictions as part of which they will not be able to roam around freely from now. As reported by Pakistan's News International on Thursday, the Trump's administration decided that the officials of the Pakistan Embassy and four consulates are required to get permission from the State Department five days before going beyond the set limits. This comes after Trump's administration turned around Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani aka Abdul Wali on the UNSC sanctions committee's list. Pakistan had earlier attacked the United States saying that the top militant leaders are residing inside Afghanistan under the full view of NATO and the US troops. Following this allegation, Trump's administration turned down Islamabad's request to put the name of Jamaat-ul-Ahrar leader Umer Khalid Khurasani also known as Abdul Wali, a terrorist listed on the UNSC sanctions committee's list. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman said, "We are deeply disappointed over the failure of the Sanctions Committee to list Wali who is a known terrorist and has the blood of hundreds of innocent Pakistanis on his hands". He added if Jamaat-ul-Ahrar had been listed by the Sanctions Committee, then its leader should also have been listed. He further accused the international bodies of having double standards in terms of fighting terrorism and disregarding Pakistan's sacrifices for curbing terrorism. Pakistan has also decided that from May 11, restrictions will be imposed on all American diplomats and their movements. The US fired back saying that Pakistani diplomats in Washington D.C. would be facing similar restrictions. Also read: Washington to press pause button on aid to Pakistan, say US sources It has been further reported that back-door negotiations are underway between the two countries. Pakistan also clarified for not allowing Pakhtun Afghan refugees in the PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement) rallies. The Foreign Office spokesman said, "Refugees are not allowed to take part in political activities. Pakistan follows this policy for Afghan refugees as well." Earlier in April this year, the United States and Pakistan had faced tensions over visa policy. As reported by the Dawn, Pakistan had received a notification by the US imposing restrictions on the movement of the Pakistani diplomats as they would need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 25 miles radius. On the other hand, the US officials, in discussion with their Pakistani counterparts, argued that Islamabad had already slapped similar restrictions on its diplomats, who are barred from travelling to Karachi and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The tensions had escalated to an extent that the US had introduced short duration visas to the Pakistani officials. (ANI)

Pakistan announces restrictions on US diplomats, says they will not be allowed to roam freely

The US will place "reciprocal restrictions" on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country from May 1, forcing them to stay within 40 kms of the city they are posted in, according to media reports.

The US' move came after Pakistan imposed restrictions on American diplomats in the country and barred them from visiting the tribal belt and Karachi.

Pakistani officials, however, had argued that those were not restrictions but security measures intended to protect American diplomats.

The US is doing so as Islamabad has already imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan, the DawnNews reported quoting a senior State Department official.

In an interview with the Voice of America's Uzbek service, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon said, "Typically, these kinds of restrictions are reciprocal in nature, so I'll just leave it at that."&nbsp

He was asked if the US government was going to restrict the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country.

Asked if the Trump administration had notified the Pakistani government, the senior US official said: "Our diplomats are under travel restrictions. They can travel further, but they have to notify the government of Pakistan."

Shannon tried to downplay the impact of the US decision by adding that such practices were "very common in diplomacy", and instead of focusing on this the need was to look at the continued engagement between the two countries, the Dawn reported.

According to earlier media reports, the Trump administration had notified Pakistan recently that from May 1, diplomats at their embassy in Washington and at consulates in other cities would not be able to travel beyond 40 km of their offices without permission.

According to this notification, diplomats would need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 40km radius.

Officials from both the countries, the US and Pakistan, however, have made it clear that the notice had nothing to do with the case of an American military attache at the US embassy in Islamabad, who is charged with causing the death of a Pakistani national and injuring another in a road accident.

Islamabad has already imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan

The US will place "reciprocal restrictions" on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country from May 1, forcing them to stay within 40 kms of the city they are posted in, according to media reports. The US' move came after Pakistan imposed restrictions on American diplomats in the country and barred them from visiting the tribal belt and Karachi. Pakistani officials, however, had argued that those were not restrictions but security measures intended to protect American diplomats. The US is doing so as Islamabad has already imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan, the DawnNews reported quoting a senior State Department official. In an interview with the Voice of America's Uzbek service, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon said, "Typically, these kinds of restrictions are reciprocal in nature, so I'll just leave it at that." He was asked if the US government was going to restrict the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country. Asked if the Trump administration had notified the Pakistani government, the senior US official said: "Our diplomats are under travel restrictions. They can travel further, but they have to notify the government of Pakistan." Shannon tried to downplay the impact of the US decision by adding that such practices were "very common in diplomacy", and instead of focusing on this the need was to look at the continued engagement between the two countries, the Dawn reported. According to earlier media reports, the Trump administration had notified Pakistan recently that from May 1, diplomats at their embassy in Washington and at consulates in other cities would not be able to travel beyond 40 km of their offices without permission. According to this notification, diplomats would need to apply for permission at least five days ahead of an intended travel outside the imposed 40km radius. Officials from both the countries, the US and Pakistan, however, have made it clear that the notice had nothing to do with the case of an American military attache at the US embassy in Islamabad, who is charged with causing the death of a Pakistani national and injuring another in a road accident.

US to restrict movement of Pakistani diplomats from May 1