US: Resettlement of Afghan allies still our policy

KABUL (Pajhwok): There is no list barring the resettlement of Afghans who worked with American forces in the United States, says the State Department.

The transfer of such individuals to the US remained Washington’s policy, a spokesperson for the State Department told a media briefing on Monday.

On March 15, Reuters reported that the Trump administration was considering imposing broad travel restrictions on citizens of 41 countries on a list that was being reviewed.

According to the news agency, the first group on the list consisted of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea.

The citizens of these countries will face a complete suspension of visas for the US.

But Tammy Bruce, the spokeswoman for the Department of State said: “Frist of all, there is no list. What people are looking at over these last several days is not a list that exists here that is being acted on. There is a review, as we know, through the President’s executive order, for us to look at the nature of what’s going to help keep America safer in dealing with the issue of visas and who’s allowed into the country.

Bruce added: “Certainly I can talk about something that doesn’t exist.”

About the resettlement of the Afghans who worked with the US, Bruce said it was still part of Washington’s policy and that security reviews were ongoing in accordance with President Trump’s executive order to maintain US security.

aw/mud