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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has told both Indian journalists stationed in Islamabad that they must leave within a week, the journalists told Reuters on Wednesday, saying they had been informed that their visas would not be renewed.
Late on Tuesday night, Snehesh Alex Philip of The Press Trust of India and Meena Menon of The Hindu received letters telling them that their visas would not be renewed.
No reason was given.
Both had been in Pakistan for less than a year.
Their visas were valid until March 9, 2014 and both had submitted applications to renew their visas before the expiration date, according to people familiar with the matter.
After their original visas expired, they were issued letters stating that their visa renewals were being processed, as is standard practice for foreign journalists in Pakistan.
Later they were told to start making preparations to leave within a week.
Last year, the government expelled a reporter from The New York Times.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (56) Closed
May 14, 2014 02:39pm
Were they spying?
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May 14, 2014 02:44pm
There are NO Pakistani Journalist in New Dehli as we speak. So why allow India the same privilege?
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May 14, 2014 02:46pm
Why not take confidence building measures in to consideration and leave them in Pakistan ?? Afterall Pakistan is part of the Indian subcontinent .
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May 14, 2014 02:59pm
@Taimoor khan
Tit for tat is not a solution always
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May 14, 2014 03:08pm
An excellent step! Enough of India appeasement policy!
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May 14, 2014 03:28pm
I welcome the decision. Their life must be in danger. They should not be allowed to visit pakistan till the condition normalise. Also there is no reason to send journalist for both sides as in era of internate we can share news without going anyother country. ;)
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May 14, 2014 03:29pm
@Taimoor khan if no pakistani journalist in india then how can we read "indian election in pakistani view- ahmedabad to bangalore" etc etc etc.
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May 14, 2014 03:40pm
The move seems to be against AMAN KI ASHA. :(
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May 14, 2014 03:42pm
Establishment of Indian and Pakistan are against peace between the two nations. Our leaders should speak up on the issue
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May 14, 2014 03:57pm
why are we so scared?, what are we hiding?, what are we ashamed off?.Folks..Pretensions to moral superiority are devastatingly destructive.
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May 14, 2014 04:15pm
@Taimoor khan : I think you are mistaken, press reporters around the world have special privileges to set up base around the world. Lot of Pakistani journalists are stationed in India and all over the world.Now these journalists might not be Pakistani but they are working for Pakistani State press or private Pakistani press. Hope I was able to make the point clear. Thanks
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May 14, 2014 04:19pm
Perhaps government wants to see who comes to power after Indian elections. If it is Modi then low level tensions will be in the air and Confidence Building Measures will be temporarily on hold. Everyone will then wait for the fog to settle down. Then, let the journalists walk streets of each other.
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May 14, 2014 04:35pm
Don't joke me please....no no Pakistan don't have a courage to do this...no way..
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May 14, 2014 04:54pm
For good order sake and confidence building measures plus more likely change in Government in India, it is important to renew the visas. Tit for tat is not atall good.
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May 14, 2014 04:56pm
@Sajjad Khan what non sense. Pakistan is the civilization, Pakistan is the original country, Pakistan is not part of any entity rather others have been Part of Pakistan. Study the Indus valley of ancient.
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May 14, 2014 05:00pm
@google Question should be asked of India not Pakistan. Pakistan is just reacting to the action taken by India. Those who instigate and commit the original sin are the ones squarely blamed. Besides, I think we are more or less done with these one sided so called "confidence building measures".
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May 14, 2014 05:01pm
@Alex Dont delude yourself India. its they who requested for extension of their visa not other way round, and their request was "rejected". I would say good riddance. Most these so called journalist are spies.
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May 14, 2014 05:07pm
@Alex Read again, there is no Pakistani Journalist in "New Dehli" and according to agreement between Pakistan and India both countries should have two journalist in each other capitals. Pakistan is under no obligation if India doesn't reciprocate. As for how stories acorss the borders can be printed on Pakistani media, its simple, Pakistani journalists dont need to be physically in India to report, they can get stories from the contacts in India. It seems you are not educated on these matters.
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May 14, 2014 05:08pm
@Aman Ki Asha Aman ka tamasha you mean? Its dieing its natural death.
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May 14, 2014 05:09pm
@Sanchari The reason I mentioned above is already printed in Pakistani media. It is not something I am making myself.
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May 14, 2014 05:25pm
Snehesh and Meena, it seems God is on your side and this is a blessing in disguise. Before you're shot at by 'unknown assailants' or implicated in a Blasphemy case, pack your bags and leave.
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May 14, 2014 05:40pm
@Sajjad Khan
Please do not say Indian sub-continent. Just sub-continent.
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May 14, 2014 05:44pm
@Taimoor khan:
Just remember that Pakistan has been the centre of earth too.
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May 14, 2014 05:49pm
Yes, they should leave fast and return to a more stable and peaceful place...
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May 14, 2014 06:03pm
@Taimoor khan
There are no Indian singers in Pakistan, why should India allow Pakistani singers and actors to come here and make money. Get a life please.
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May 14, 2014 06:21pm
@Taimoor khan Bro talking about "Indus Valley" that is why India is called INDIA. The name for those who live around the Indus river. The word "PAKISTAN" was first used in the 20th century. Hope you have access to free resources on history. Read them. Will help you in becoming more liberal.
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May 14, 2014 06:52pm
I'm proud of two brave journalists who stayed in Pakistan knowing the fact that they are in dangerous place on earth for journalists! Welcome back!!
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May 14, 2014 06:54pm
@Sajjad Khan There is no Indian subcontimemt, it is south asian sub continent. Get it right.
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May 14, 2014 06:54pm
@Adventurer yes, like always.
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May 14, 2014 06:55pm
@Ali well said, all agree.
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May 14, 2014 06:55pm
@NORI You read my mind :)
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May 14, 2014 06:56pm
@Taimoor khan for once you have pointed out a fact commonly distorted by our neighbours and their history books to suit there vision.
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May 14, 2014 06:57pm
@Taimoor khan yep, add terrorism to the list as well.
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May 14, 2014 07:14pm
It's only we Indians who welcome all Pakistanis (except terrorist) with open arms....we should treat them the way they treat us...guys welcome back home.
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May 14, 2014 07:38pm
@Aman Ki Asha Actually it should be renamed as "Aman ki Nirasha"
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May 14, 2014 07:39pm
@Adventurer All the infidels are spies. They all conspire against islam.
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May 14, 2014 07:40pm
@kashif Sometimes even dreams become reality. But you need to dare to dream.
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May 14, 2014 08:01pm
Pakistan is not obligated to renew their visa. Its a privilege not a right of foreign nationals. Everyone, including those commenting here should respect the decision of the government. Kapish.
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May 14, 2014 08:47pm
Can you imagine if all these foreign "journalists" leave Pakistan with their agendas. I hope they do. Pakistan will only be better off without them. So please do leave and be safe elsewhere
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May 14, 2014 10:37pm
The most sane explanation here seems to be that Pakistan has some credible news about the lives of these journalists being at risk and hence have asked them to leave as a precautionary measure.
Pakistan may have its own compulsions and even if they don't have , its best to get back our journalists than risk them there any further.
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May 14, 2014 10:58pm
I am generally not one to to support govt or army or establishment, however, maybe there is intel on these guys being spying? The current government is practically an Indian controlled one. If they are not renewing their visas, there probably is a very good reason.
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May 14, 2014 11:12pm
@Alex The news about the Indian elections are surfacing in the international media, there is no need for any particular country' journalist to be present personally for the coverage of the news. Besides Pakistan has not given any specific significance to the Indian elections, except for what is due, but our media have provided very professionally the coverage of Indian elections, just they way the Pakistani media provides best coverage to all the international issues.
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May 14, 2014 11:17pm
Excellent decision by the government, there is no need for Indian journalists to present in Pakistan, we are more concerned about the safety, and security of our own journalists
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May 15, 2014 04:43am
@Washim
You couldn't be more wrong re "welcoming Pakistanis with open arms" - the facts speak for themselves when 90 year old grandmothers and 10 year old children are refused visa to India when these benign relatives want to attend family weddings in India and are refused visas after making these Pakistani families wait for 6 months and still charge fees and reject them Indian visas! So face the facts as to how is the Indian visa policy against Pakistanis!
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May 15, 2014 06:31am
@Munaeem Jamal I agree, we think the same way...Weapon merchants are the beneficiaries on both sides
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May 15, 2014 09:35am
@DK And which Pakistani forced them to stay here? If it is so dangerous why did they apply for a visa renewal? Grapes are sour huh? Just because there is no renewal it is now better they be in INdia? Seriously!!!
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May 15, 2014 09:36am
@Washim Seriously??? LOL
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May 15, 2014 05:00pm
@Sheeda Pistol Absolutely. I agree. Just the same way that Pakistan cricketers are not picked for IPL etc..... let us respect the decision and not use these things to create "I hate India" meme's on facebook pages supporting "Our Pakistani Cricketers" etc.....
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May 15, 2014 07:11pm
Menon entered the ATC courts after the blast in Rawalpindi, knowing the media are not permitted entry. Philip was spreading false rumors of secret agreements with US forces in Afghanistan.
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May 15, 2014 07:16pm
@Taimoor khan Same. Why allow Pakistanis working in Bollywood?
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May 15, 2014 07:17pm
@Taimoor khan Beta...There are many Paki journalist in India covering Indian election
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May 15, 2014 07:18pm
@Taimoor khan Madarssa Educationist lol
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May 15, 2014 07:22pm
Why can't we expect the same in India that all the pakistani journalist, actors, singers should be sent back to their pakistani state.
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May 16, 2014 11:16am
Why??
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May 17, 2014 01:04am
@Rao ...Yes Center of earth for you know what....!LOL
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May 17, 2014 01:12am
@Taimoor...BTW bunch of Pak citizens come to India for medical reasons... Please talk to them and find out before you speak nonsense.
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