For more than two decades, I have worked as a journalist in Pakistan, arguing for progressive ideas that are often unpopular, sometimes risky, but always necessary: religious freedom, interfaith coexistence, democratic values, and dialogue over conflict. I have advocated engagement with the United States during moments when anti-Americanism in Pakistan was at its most intense—after the killing of Osama bin Laden, during the Raymond Davis controversy, amid drone strike debates, Memogate, and the Shakil Afridi episode. I did so publicly, consistently, and often against the prevailing mood.

That is why my recent experience at the US embassy in Islamabad—where I was grilled and refused a visa to attend the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington—left me unsettled, not merely disappointed.

The refusal itself is not the heart of the matter. Visa decisions are sovereign and discretionary. What deserves scrutiny is the line of questioning that led there—and what it suggests about how advocacy for the Abraham Accords, diplomatic ties with Israel, and religious freedom is perceived, even within spaces that are meant to promote those very ideals.

I was invited to attend the IRF Summit 2026 by the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) and the IRF Roundtable. The summit brings together policymakers, activists, and faith leaders to defend freedom of belief worldwide. As a journalist who writes on peace, religious freedom and interfaith harmony—and as a contributor to The Times of Israel—my participation was professionally relevant and intellectually aligned.

My visa interview unfolded in multiple stages, each increasingly disconcerting.

The first round of my interview took place at a common interview window with a foreign lady consular officer. The exchange was routine and professional. I was asked about the purpose of my travel, my professional background, and my publications. I explained that I write for The Times of Israel, Daily Times, and The Province, and identified my sponsors. I submitted all required documentation, including official sponsorship letters from AMMWEC and the IRF Roundtable. At that stage, nothing appeared unusual or concerning.

The second round, however, marked a noticeable shift.

I was called into a separate interview room and questioned by a local visa officer in Urdu. The discussion quickly moved away from my participation in the IRF Summit and focused instead on the........

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