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2 sportsmen from Indian-controlled Kashmir denied U.S. visa citing "current policy"

Xinhua, February 1, 2017 Adjust font size:

Two sportsmen from Indian-controlled Kashmir have been denied visa to visit the United States by the embassy officials citing "current policy".

The duo told local media on Tuesday that U.S. consular official in New Delhi conveyed them their visas were rejected due to "current policies."

Abid Hussain Khan and Tanvir Hussain were scheduled to take part in the 2017 World Snowshoe Championships in New York from February 24 to February 25.

"Indian Snowshoers Denied Visas, due to current (U.S.) 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 on Tuesday.

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

The move is seen as the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order, banning Muslims from entering the country, stretching its arms to Muslims in Asia.

Last week, the U.S. president signed an executive order which suspended all refugee admissions for 120 days and barred citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S. for 90 days.

The order evoked widespread protests and condemnation within the U.S. Many countries have also criticized the executive order. Endit