ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry confirmed for the first time on Thursday that US authorities have communicated with them over projected travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats in the US, set to begin on May 1.

“We have received official communication regarding certain measures that the US intends to implement with effect from 1st of May 2018,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammad Faisal said during a weekly news briefing.

Earlier this week a senior Trump administration official confirmed that the US will impose travel restrictions on Pakistani diplomats. The official explained that Washington was taking the measure because Islamabad had imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan.

Although Dr. Faisal did not react to the US statement that Islamabad had put travel curbs on American diplomats, he did add: “The issue is primarily of reciprocity.”

He said that Islamabad and Washington were talking about the issue and added: “Both sides are in touch and we are hopeful the matter will be resolved soon.”

Once travel restrictions come into effect, Pakistan’s envoys in the US will only be able to move within a 40km radius of the city in which they are posted. They will have to inform authorities and request permission if they wish to travel beyond the declared limit.