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Unfortunate

The experience of Pakistanis Abdul Sattar Edhi and Wajahat Hussain in the U.S. and the U.K. airport (“Travelling while Pakistani,” Feb. 11) was unfortunate. Pakistanis are looked upon with suspicion in the West, so much so that even respected persons are treated with disdain. It is not fair to treat all Pakistanis badly because of the action of a few. There are good and bad elements in all countries. Will the U.S. tolerate similar treatment of its citizens elsewhere?

Fakeha Rahman,

Aligarh

* * *

The article is reflective of the ordeal endured by South Asians at the hands of British and U.S. immigration officials after 9/11. It hurts to wait in serpentine queues and end up answering absurd and irrelevant questions, when fellow travellers from EU countries are seen freely walking past the immigration barrier. We too have to share the blame for such state of affairs as many of our countrymen, including people’s representatives, have tried to violate the immigration rules of other countries.

Kumaran Appuchami,

Salem

* * *

In Mr. Edhi’s case, immigration lapses, rather than his nationality, seem to have delayed his clearance at the New York airport. He had a lapsed green card with him. When one’s green card lapses due to discontinuance of residence in the U.S. or because of being away for a long period, he or she is issued a visitor visa. The green card is surrendered to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

One assumes Mr. Edhi had a visitor visa but he did not surrender his green card. This must have been the reason for the Immigration to do a thorough investigation. The Immigration officials were only doing their duty and this was no discrimination.

V. Sethuraman,

Chennai

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