US to restrict movement of Pakistani diplomats from May 1

The US will place "reciprocal restrictions" on the movement of Pakistani diplomats in the country from May 1, forcing them to stay within 40 kms of the city they are posted in, according to media reports.

The US' move came after Pakistan imposed restrictions on American diplomats in the country and barred them from visiting the tribal belt and Karachi.

Pakistani officials, however, had argued that those were not restrictions but security measures intended to protect American diplomats.

The US is doing so as Islamabad has already imposed similar restrictions on US diplomats in Pakistan, the DawnNews reported quoting a senior State Department official.

In an interview with the Voice of America's Uzbek service, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon said, "Typically, these kinds of restrictions are reciprocal in nature, so I'll just leave it at that."