In yet another incident of global humiliation, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, K K Ahsan Wagan, faced deportation from Los Angeles. This occurred immediately upon his arrival. Although he held a valid visa, US immigration authorities had different ideas. Their actions were linked to corruption allegations from his previous posting in the US.
Imagine the scene: a Pakistani ambassador is expecting a warm family reunion in sunny LA. Instead, he finds himself on the next flight straight out. It is not because of expired documents or missing paperwork. The reason is that even the world’s most lenient immigration system refused to entertain Pakistan’s “diplomatic standards.”
Wagan’s name was flagged due to “controversial visa references.” It is a polite way of saying that his past dealings were shady enough to warrant a travel ban. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has shown its usual display of efficiency. It has now instructed its Los Angeles consulate to “investigate” the matter. What exactly they plan to discover—beyond their own incompetence—is anyone’s guess.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Amina Baloch have been informed. It is presumed they were busy denying Pakistan’s financial collapse in other international forums. Given Pakistan’s track record, the official response will likely involve a dramatic press conference. It will accuse the US of being part of a “global conspiracy” against Pakistan’s ever-flourishing diplomatic reputation.
The incident serves as another reminder. While Pakistan’s elite loves lecturing the world on diplomatic decorum, reality paints a different picture. In this reality, even their own ambassadors aren’t welcome in countries they once served. Maybe next time, Pakistan should focus on fixing corruption at home instead of pretending to be a global player.
