Kashmiri Athletes Denied US Visa For World Championships

Tanveer Hussain

Srinagar: Two snowshoers from Kashmir have alleged they have been denied visa to the US due to “current (US) policy”.

“Indian Snowshoers Denied Visas, due to ‘current (US) policy’. This from our good friend Abid Khan, from Kashmir, minutes ago in our Facebook Messaging,” Clyde Rabideau, Mayor of the Village of Saranac Lake in New York, wrote on his Facebook page.

The snowshoers reportedly denied visas are Abid Khan and Tanveer Hussain. They were supposed to take part in the 2017 World Snowshoe Championships in New York from February 24-25.

According to the conversation posted by Rabideau on his page, Khan informed him about the denial of the visa.

“Sorry sir, Visa denied,” Khan wrote to the Mayor, a Democrat.

Khan claimed all the paperwork for both the athletes was in order including “local Government sponsorship, federation, your support letter, my financial background. They did not missed (sic) any supporting document.”

“The lady officer at US embassy in New Delhi after checking all docs (sic), just went inside into another room.

After returning she said ‘Sorry, due to our current policy we can’t issue you visa’,” Khan said.

Rabideau, while promising help with the visa, said “this will not stand”.

"I and my manager were denied visas to USA due to their current policy," said Tanveer Hussain, one of the snowshoe athlete from J&K who was denied visa.  — Agencies