By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday it is seeking details from its US missions after reports emerged of Pakistani students having their visas canceled, pledging full support to those affected through its embassy.
The development follows the Trump administration’s revocation of hundreds of international student visas across the United States, requiring many to leave within days. University officials reported that some students were informed of cancellations via updates in the federal Student Exchange and Visitor Information System or through sudden text messages and emails.
Immigration experts called the scale of the cancellations unprecedented, a rare disruption to the typically routine process for international students. The National Immigration Project has launched a legal challenge against the move, which has impacted students in states such as California, Colorado, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Florida.
Social media posts suggest Pakistani students are among those affected.
“We are gathering details from our missions in the US and will respond accordingly,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at a weekly press briefing. “Our missions will engage with relevant US agencies to assist the affected students.”
A tracker by Inside Higher Ed, a US publication on higher education, shows over 80 universities reporting visa cancellations for students and faculty. Some cases were tied to minor issues like roommate disputes or traffic tickets, while others appeared linked to pro-Palestinian protests.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month that over 300 visas were revoked, targeting individuals allegedly involved in activities against American interests.
Separately, the US Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP) announced this week that the US Department of State has ended the Global Undergraduate (Global UGRAD) exchange program for Pakistani students after 15 years. The initiative had provided academic and cultural opportunities to thousands.
The program’s closure aligns with broader US aid cuts under the Trump administration, aimed at influencing foreign policy alignment. These reductions have also hit food, education, medical, and cultural programs.
“This exchange program played a key role in academic and cultural enrichment for Pakistani students over 15 years,” Khan said. “Student exchanges strengthen bilateral ties through education, science, and people-to-people connections.”
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