Pak envoy to Turkmenistan denied entry to US

ISLAMABAD: In a rare and unusual diplomatic incident, the United States denied entry to Pakistan’s ambassador to Turkmenistan and deported him from Los Angeles, diplomatic sources confirmed.

“Ambassador K K Wagan was deported from the US. He had an immigration objection which led to his deportation,” a senior Foreign Ministry official confirmed to The News on Monday. Ambassador Wagan, who holds a valid US visa and all necessary travel documents, was reportedly traveling to Los Angeles for a personal visit when he was stopped by US immigration authorities upon arrival, sources said.

The officials then forced him to return to his last port of departure, raising concerns about diplomatic protocol and the nature of the decision.

According to diplomatic sources, the US immigration system flagged Wagan over “controversial visa references,” leading to his immediate deportation. It remains unclear what specific concerns triggered this response from American authorities.

Wagan is a seasoned diplomat with extensive experience in Pakistan’s foreign service. Over the years, he has held several key assignments, including second secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu, deputy consul general at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Los Angeles, deputy head of mission/ counsellor and ambassador in Muscat, Oman, minister/ charge d’Affaires/ head of mission at the Embassy of Pakistan in Niamey, Niger, Overseas Pakistanis, Consular Affairs, and Crisis Management Unit director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad. Given the seriousness of the situation, Ambassador Wagan is also likely to be called back to Islamabad to explain his position, sources added.

The incident has already been communicated to Pakistan’s top diplomatic leadership. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Secretary Aamna Baloch have been briefed on the matter, while Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has directed its Consulate in Los Angeles to investigate the case, sources told The News.

Efforts to reach Ambassador Wagan for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages. Similarly, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has refrained from issuing an official statement on the matter.