Pakistan, India likely to sign new visa regime
Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna, left, shakes hand with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar.—AP File Photo
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are likely to sign the long-awaited new visa regime during a visit by Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna to Islamabad next week.
Mr Krishna will attend a review meeting of the peace dialogue and co-chair the plenary session of the India-Pakistan Joint Commission.
“The Minister for External Affairs of India will be visiting Pakistan on 7-9 Sept for holding review meeting with the foreign minister at her invitation,” the Foreign Office announced on Friday.
The meeting of foreign ministers will be preceded by talks at the foreign secretaries’ level. Officials of foreign ministries of the two countries will lay the ground work for the ministers.
Diplomatic sources said the Pakistani side was eagerly looking forward to signing the new visa agreement during Mr Krishna’s visit.
The agreement was finalised at a meeting of interior secretaries in May, but its signing was held up at the last minute because of opposition by Interior Minister Rehman Malik who insisted that it should be initialled at the political level.
Postponement of the signing during Indian Home Secretary R.K. Singh’s visit left Indian officials baffled. A joint statement issued after the talks between the interior secretaries welcomed the finalisation of the agreement and noted that it would be signed “at an early date”.
The excuse from the Pakistani side for delaying the signing was that “some internal approvals are under process and the agreement will be signed once they are in place”.
The new visa regime will, for the first time, include group tourist visa, visa on arrival for senior citizens and children and year-long multiple entry visa for businessmen.
“The two ministers will also co-chair the plenary of the India-Pakistan Joint Commission to be held in Islamabad on Sept 8,” the FO statement said.
The commission is meeting after five years. It was revived in 2005 after a decade and a half and was again suspended in 2008
because of the Mumbai attacks.
The foreign ministers’ meeting follows a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday in Tehran on the sidelines of NAM summit.
The Tehran meeting was the second between the two leaders this year.
During the meeting, Mr Zardari noted that both the countries had made lot of progress towards normalising their ties.
I hope they have some concessions on the spouse visa too. Its a nightmare to go reporting to various police stations in every city visited
Agree. There should be relaxation on visas for spouses. Its a nightmare for families and children. Marriage is a bond of love and caring, what else would be more stronger in building confidence and strong ties.
inshallah if india and pakistan good friends both countries will be richest countries in world may be earn ten billion dollar tourist income every year
I am an Indian. I think this is a great intiative.Security concerns are misplaced in this context. No terrorist would apply for visa to come to India ( especially when we have such a long porus border and poorly monitored west coast. ) . This move will foster Cultural , Trade and Educational ties between peace loving citizens of both the countries. Cautiously hopeful for outcome or as sahir put it ” Wo subah kabhi to aayegi “.
The above comment depicts a sense of negative feel, which one can easily make out, who will have more headaches, we all know it. It works both ways!!! . Instead moving forward in a congenial way, some people still have hate rate and hostile thinking process.
Very Dangerous for Indian security
Its a lie believe me. The officers concerned about security issues themselves know that anyone intending mischief would never apply for a visa and follow legal procedures. The current hardline visa regime is just a gimmick which both governments know to the highest extent.
The present train, bus and air modes of transports between India and Pakistan will not be able to manage large travellers between the two countries. In addition to train link at Khokrapar , road link should be established. Also ferry system between Karachi and Bombay should be started immediately.
A new era of friendship will follow,leading to resolution of core Kashmir issue.
Cant believe,
may peace prevail. hoping for better bilateral relations.
This step of visa liberalisation is welcomed but a strict watch will have to be kept by the Indian Govt particularly on the business people who enjoy multiple enteries in India under the new scheme and terrorists don’t enter India in the garb of business people from Pakistan.In the other words the business people from Pakistan should not be disguised as wolves in the sheeps clothings.
lets keep our fingers crossed
Culturally, Pakistani and Indians are of the same origin and that the
partition of the Indian sub-continent has been a strategic blunder.
Wrong, every state in the subcontinent speaks a different language and the culture also changes every few hundred kilometers so what similar Origin are you talking about. What does a Pathan from the North has in common with someone from Tamil Nadu…or a Punjabi with a Bengali?
Jaihoon,
I am a pakistani and i fully agree with you.
I agree.
Look at the contrast in facial expressions of both !!
hina studied in US; in the west people use more facial expression thats it.i have to agree though that the intelligence agency of one country will be delighted and that of the other will get a headache.
The above comment depicts a sense of negative feel, which one can easily make out, who will have more headaches, we all know it. It works both ways!!! . Instead moving forward in a congenial way, some people across the border still have hate rate and hostile thinking process.