Monday, Mar 17 2025 | Time 12:21 Hrs(IST)
World


Trump administration places Bhutan, Pakistan in draft list of countries for travel ban

Trump administration places Bhutan, Pakistan in draft list of countries for travel ban

Washington, Mar 15 (UNI) The Trump administration has placed Bhutan on a draft ‘Red List’ of countries, along with 11 others, for a complete travel ban to the USA, while Pakistan has been placed in a group that will be considered for a partial suspension of visa issuance, according to a report.

President Donald Trump’s administration has issued a draft list of 43 countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan and Pakistan, for a series of travel restrictions, The New York Times reported.

The 43 countries are divided into three colour lists of Red, Orange and Yellow.

The draft Red List of 11 countries will have a complete travel ban and their citizens would be barred from entering the US. These countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

The list has been developed by the State Department, and that changes were likely by the time it reaches the White House.

For countries on the draft “orange” list of 10 countries, travel would be restricted but not cut off. In those cases, affluent business travellers might be allowed to enter, but not people traveling on immigrant or tourist visas.

Citizens on that draft list would be subjected to mandatory in-person interviews in order to receive a visa. The list includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and Turkmenistan.

Countries in the draft “yellow” list of 22 countries would be given 60 days to clear up perceived deficiencies, with the threat of being moved onto one of the other lists if they did not comply.

The issues could include failing to share with the United States information about incoming travelers, purportedly inadequate security practices for issuing passports, or the selling of citizenship to people from banned countries, which could serve as a loophole around the restrictions.

The list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

However, Reuters has cited a different listing of countries.

According to the Reuters, the Trump administration memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups.

The first group of 10 countries for full visa comprises: Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela. It does not mention Bhutan.

The second list for partial visa suspension (tourist, student and some other visas affected), mentions five countries: Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, South Sudan

The third list of 26 Countries recommended for a partial suspension if they do not address deficiencies are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Turkmenistan and Vanuatu.

According to Reuters, a US official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

President Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.

Trump's directive is part of an immigration crackdown that he launched at the start of his second term

UNI RN

More News
Trump to speak with Putin Tuesday on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire

Trump to speak with Putin Tuesday on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire

17 Mar 2025 | 12:17 PM

Washington, Mar 17 (UNI) U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about settling the conflict in Ukraine, U.S. media reported.

see more..
Military drone, helicopter crash at S  Korea's army airfield, no casualty reported

Military drone, helicopter crash at S Korea's army airfield, no casualty reported

17 Mar 2025 | 12:15 PM

Seoul Mar 17 (UNI) A military drone and a helicopter crashed at an army airfield in South Korea Monday, without any casualty, according to local broadcaster YTN and Yonhap news agency.

see more..

Turkey to send military delegation to Syria, appoint military advisor – Reports

17 Mar 2025 | 12:14 PM

Ankara, Mar 17 (UNI) Ankara will send a military delegation to Syria in the coming days to discuss the training of the Syrian army, and a Turkish officer may be appointed as a military advisor in the Arab republic, Turkish pro-government newspaper Hurriyet reported on Monday.

see more..
Breakthrough in ultra-low-temp battery powers drone test in minus 36 degrees Celsius

Breakthrough in ultra-low-temp battery powers drone test in minus 36 degrees Celsius

17 Mar 2025 | 12:11 PM

Beijing, Mar 17 (UNI) A drone powered by an ultra-low-temperature high-energy-density lithium battery, developed by Chinese researchers, has successfully completed a flight test in China's northernmost city under extreme cold conditions of minus 36 degrees Celsius.

see more..
Trump plans to talk with Putin on Tuesday

Trump plans to talk with Putin on Tuesday

17 Mar 2025 | 11:24 AM

Moscow, Mar 17 (UNI) US President Donald Trump said he planned to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

see more..