US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price on Friday said that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is currently on a visit to Pakistan, was not doing so on a US government-sponsored travel.
He said this as he responded to a question during a press briefing.
“Well, as I understand it, Representative Omar is not visiting Pakistan on US government-sponsored travel, so I’d need to refer you to her office for questions on her travel,” Price said.
Omar is one of the first two Muslim women elected to the US Congress. Earlier during the week, she arrived in Islamabad on a visit to Pakistan. She is expected to stay in Pakistan till April 24.
During her visit, she has held meetings with several important personalities, including President Dr. Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Foreign Office officials, as well as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan.
The congresswoman’s first day in the country was subjugated by controversy over her meeting with former premier Imran Khan who had previously alleged that a Washington-backed conspiracy was the reason for his government’s ouster. The US has denied the claims.
In addition to taking an extreme stance on private interactions between politicians and US officials, Khan has in his speeches vowed no subservience to the US.
