ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Thursday that the FBI agent arrested in Karachi on Monday did not enjoy diplomatic immunity.

“He was not a diplomat and, therefore, had no immunity,” FO spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said at the weekly media briefing.

Joel Cox was arrested while attempting to board a flight for Islamabad, for carrying bullets, small knives and spy gadgets. The man was later identified as FBI official sent to Pakistan on a short-term assignment with the US embassy in Islamabad.

“He is here on a short-term visit visa and his visa is valid. The investigations are still continuing,” the spokesperson said.

Governments of both countries were in touch to resolve the matter, she added.

Visa for pilgrims: Speaking about the denial of visa to Pakistani pilgrims by India, the spokesperson said: “A pattern is emerging whereby our pilgrims are being denied the facility to go and attend Urs celebrations in prominent holy places that are covered by the 1974 agreement between Pakistan and India.”

India has said that the pilgrims were refused visa for participating in the annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif (May 1-12) because of elections in the country.

The FO, which had earlier summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner for registering a protest over the issue, looked unconvinced about the Indian explanation for refusing visa to 500 pilgrims.

“Our High Commission learnt through local administration and local politicians in Rajasthan that there was no such problem and they were prepared to receive the pilgrims,” Ms Aslam said.

PM’s visit to Iran: About Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s upcoming visit to Iran, she said Pakistan hoped that it “would be very constructive and would open up more avenues of cooperation between our two countries”.

Mr Sharif travels to Iran on Sunday (May 11) for a two-day trip.

“There would be discussions on specific proposals regarding economic cooperation and regional issues that are of interest to both Pakistan and Iran,” the spokesperson said.

N-proliferation: Ms Aslam rejected as “wild allegations” the concerns expressed at an international conference on non-proliferation and disarmament.

Former senior Pentagon official Peter Lavoy had told the conference that there were fears in Washington that proliferation activities could resume in Pakistan and that the country could again resort to use of non-state actors for achieving foreign policy objectives.

The spokesperson said: “The US leaders and officials have been effusive in their praise of the measures that Pakistan has taken. So making allegations in seminars without any evidence is not something that should be given undue importance.”