Pakistani envoy denied entry into US, deported from Los Angeles airport

While Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue official statement, Foreign Office is reportedly taking matter seriously. Pakistan's top officials briefed about turn of events.

Ahsan Wagan, who is Pakistan's ambassador to Turkmenistan, had earlier served as Pakistan’s envoy to the US | X

New Delhi: Pakistani diplomat Ahsan Wagan found himself in a spot of bother after being denied entry into the US while on a private visit to Los Angeles.

Wagan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, was stopped by U.S. immigration officials at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), despite reportedly holding a valid visa and the necessary travel documents.

Wagan was not only denied entry but was also deported back to his last point of departure despite diplomats being subject to immunity and special privileges under international law. It is, however, not clear which passport—diplomatic or normal—he presented to the American authorities at the airport.

According to Pakistan media reports, his deportation is unrelated to any diplomatic policies or ongoing issues. The episode, however, has sent ripples through Pakistan’s diplomatic community.

While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to issue an official statement on the incident, the Foreign Office is reportedly taking the matter seriously. Pakistan’s top brass, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch, have been briefed on the situation. The foreign ministry has reportedly instructed the Pakistani Consulate in Los Angeles to investigate the incident and gather further details.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry is expected to call Wagan back to Islamabad to explain his side of the story.

The decision to bar Wagan from entering the US is reportedly tied to allegations of administrative corruption during his prior diplomatic assignment in America. Wagan had served as Deputy Consul General at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles, a role that seems to have placed him under scrutiny by American officials.

Although these allegations have yet to be publicly confirmed, they appear to be the reason behind the immigration issues he faced upon arrival, according to Pakistani media.

Wagan’s name had been flagged in the U.S. immigration system over what were described as “controversial visa references”, The News International, a Pakistani news outlet, reported. While officials have labelled it unspecified complaints against Ambassador Ahsan Wagan, neither the U.S. State Department nor the Department of Homeland Security have issued an official statement on the matter, Aaj TV reported.

Wagan, who previously served as Pakistan’s envoy to the US and Oman, was appointed to his current post in Turkmenistan just six months ago. He has previously served in key roles such as the second secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, deputy head of mission in Muscat, and the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Crisis Management Unit.

In 2017, Wagan was nominated for Pakistan’s prestigious Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the country’s second-highest national award, in recognition of his outstanding service to the nation.

Meanwhile, Pakistani analyst Ali Chisti called it ‘a rare slap to a serving envoy’ which is unlike “detained French gendarmes or even Hasina’s revoked status’. “Can’t even snap back at the likes of Trump so will only investigate and perhaps protest,” political commentator Ayesha Siddiqa wrote on ‘X’.

(Edited by Tony Rai)