Imran Khan Wants US To Ban Pakistanis. Trump Can Do So, Says White House Chief

Pakistan's cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who is often criticised as “Taliban Khan” for his soft approach towards Taliban, has urged Donald Trump should ban Pakistanis from entering the United Sates. Addressing a rally in Pakistan’s Sahiwal town, he criticised the ban as anti-Muslim and praised neighbouring Iran’s retaliatory action of banning US citizens from entering the country.

“I want to tell all my fellow Pakistanis today, I pray that Donald Trump really bans visas for us," Khan said. He added that such a ban will help prevent “brain drain” from Pakistan. Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf, is in power in the restive province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan has not officially commented on Trump’s immigration ban imposed on seven Muslim-majority countries.

According to Times of India, the list can be extended to ban more Muslim countries. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, talking to the press on Sunday, hinted that Pakistan, and other Muslim nations that harbour terror, can be added to the list of banned countries.

“Now, you can point to other countries that have similar problems, like Pakistan and others. Perhaps we need to take it further. But for now, immediate steps, pulling the Band-Aid off, is to do further vetting for people traveling in and out of those countries,” the daily quoted Priebus as saying.

With its shift towards India, the US has been signaling Rawalpindi to end its support for terrorists targeting India and Afghanistan. Barack Obama’s subtle moves are expected to become radical under Trump and the extension of the ban to include Pakistan can’t be ruled out.