Pakistan gets a pass on new US visa bond rule

• Washington makes visa bond programme permanent; Bangladesh, Nepal among 50 countries covered, India also excluded • Visitors from listed nations face refundable deposits of up to $20,000 WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa under a new programme that took effect on Aug 1. The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are covered by the programme, while India is not. Afghanistan and Iran are not included because the United States does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with…