- 07 Sep 2012
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Burying the bitter past: Pakistan, India reach visa regime milestone
New visa policy, to be signed today, envisages eight different categories.
Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna shakes hands with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on his arrival for a meeting in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan and India are set to sign a landmark visa accord today (Saturday), in a move that should deliver the first-ever tangible results of a nascent peace process between the arch rivals that had stalled following the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The historic visa regime, which seeks to do away with decades-old stringent travel restrictions on cross-border movement, will be signed during talks between Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and her Indian counterpart S M Krishna.
The Indian foreign minister arrived on Friday on a three-day visit as part of the composite dialogue between the two countries. Krishna’s formal talks with Khar at the weekend will culminate the second round of talks on the peace process.
Ahead of the high-level negotiations, foreign secretaries from the two countries met to firm up the agenda.
Official sources said the two secretaries finalised the new visa regime, which was discussed in May during talks between the interior secretaries of the two countries. However, the final agreement could not be signed on Pakistan’s insistence that it must be signed at the political level.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik confirmed to the media on Thursday that the visa regime would be signed during Krishna’s visit.
There are eight different categories of visas in the new regime, which include diplomatic, non-diplomatic, 36-hour transit visit, tourist, civil society, media and business.
The tourist visa will be limited to five destinations and will be valid for a period of six months, while the diplomatic visa category will offer visas to the consular, the consular mission and their family members.
‘Positive discussions’
Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani told reporters that the two sides had “positive discussions”, adding that the water issue and Kashmir dispute needed to be addressed. Jilani said a report detailing the progress so far made in the second round of talks would be presented before the two foreign ministers on Saturday.
Step-by-step approach
Talking to reporters on his arrival at the Chaklala airbase, the Indian external affairs minister said Pakistan and India needed a step-by-step approach to resolve all their contentious disputes.
“The two countries are heading in the right direction,” Krishna said, reminding that all issues cannot be resolved at once.
Commenting on the issues of Siachen‚ Sir Creek and trade between the two countries‚ Krishna said India and Pakistan are moving forward in a gradual manner.
Krishna calls on president, Prime Minister
Krishna also held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
President Zardari told the Indian foreign minister that the two countries must now move beyond the reiteration of their positions to more substantive results. He also pointed out that the two neighbours must not allow the derailment of the normalisation process.
“In this regard, the president also suggested reviving the anti-terrorism mechanism comprising representatives of the foreign office, home/interior and intelligence agencies of the two countries,” President Zardari was quoted as saying in an official statement.
The president said frequent interactions of the leadership of both countries would help provide impetus to efforts for ensuring peace and creating better understanding on various issues.
Krishna also called on Prime Minister Ashraf and discussed bilateral relations. They exchanged views on continuation of the peace process.
Prime Minister Ashraf said Krishna’s visit is of great importance as the people of both countries desire good relations.
“We must learn from the past. We cannot change neighbours,” he said, adding that Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues needed to be resolved with a positive approach.
The premier also told the Indian foreign minister that there was political consensus in Pakistan over having good relations with India.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2012.
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Reader Comments (26)
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Make LoC International Border..Siachen remains under Indian Army..Sir creek..who cares…
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Sigh of relief. The unnatural boundary between India and Pakistan becoming porous. Great!
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Their whole world view is India..India…
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@Relax:
Similarly who cares what you say.Recommend
A commendable move for the divided families to visit their ancestral place and meet near and dear ones. Rahman Malik’s stand in delaying this accord is deplorable
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The worst FM india has ever ever produced……
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The looks on Krishna face clearly display arrogance and haughtiness. India is not serious to have peace with Pakistan. It only wants to attract more foreign investment by showing to the world that it has a investment friendly environment and continuing to improve ties with its neigbours.
Improving ties with India must be conditional. India must withdraw its support of Talibans Stop interference in Balochistan. Respect Indus water treaty before Pakistan can extend the hand of friendship
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For one unbelievable moment I agree with Hamid Gul. Neither party has a domestic mandate for this PDA.
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@Relax: Firstly, so long as there is mutual suspicion, both sides will remain dug in and any change will be ephemeral.
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Secondly, Sir Creek is more important than Siachen which only requires validation of the AGPL by Pakistan. Depending on what boundary is agreed on, what is at stake in Sir Creek are off-shore rights to fishing and minerals.
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It is also interesting to note that India seeks to maintain the status quo on all three issues. It is Pakistan that is seeking additional territory. This position is so entrenched in the mindset of the Pakistani populace that no leader will accept a solution that does not have at its core a magnanimous gesture by India where India donates a large portion of its territory.
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@Relax:
“Make LoC International Border..Siachen remains under Indian Army..Sir creek..who care”
Mr. Relax born once again to fulfill your these dreams and desires…..
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Methinks both countries’ most especially importantly the current Pakistani leadership are trying their best and utmost to bury Kashmir issue under the umbrella of business’,trade’s,visas’ and traveling’s agreements…….
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good show
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A much better outcome in the form of a gradual, stepwise and slow normalisation of ties between the two countries. Much better than hyped up and gung-ho expectations to resolve Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir issues immediately. I suspect however that unless there is a fundamental change in position from Pak Military/ establishment to divorce all strategic-assets that this process will always be hostage to another Kasab or Lakhvi.
Trade and visa liberalisation will cause significant pressure on the hawks on both sides to move from there rigid positions. Pakistan must be seen as taking concrete steps in plugging flow of terrorists to India and Afghanistan. India understands that the more lawless and fragile its neigbour becomes, the more resources it has to channel to control its borders and accumulate military hardware on its western border.
Normalisation of ties technically has a lot more gain for Pakistanis than Indians. We have a fast developing, mature and stable democracy in our neighbour that can truly lay claim to be a developing super-power as much as we hate to admit it.
There is no option for us but to make peace with India. Either that or we stay enslaved in our hatred for all things India and be held for ransom by our strategic assets and hawks in our downward spiral to be a failed state.Recommend
India is a status quo power in all the disputes with Pakistan.Pakistan has tried everything to challenge and change the status quo ) including trying to involve third parties US, OIC and China) and failed. Pakistani elite have realized that Pakistan cannot change the status quo and the methods it adopted not only failed but has caused existential threats to the state itself. Do you really think that India is going to change its position in the disputes and concede liberally to weakened Pakistan?
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When there is no investment in the state of Indian Administered Kashmir from the Indian side, why are we under the false illusion of this trade between Pakistan and India. Strenthing ties with India will harm Pakistan in the long run and will benefit only Indian hidden agendas.
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Please also take in to account Pakistani Origins living abroad. These Pakistani Origins are discriminated on Indian Visa matters due to their own or their parental grant parental links to Pakistan. Fee is charged more. Process of security clearance takes month altogether. Very high fee taken on deposit of application and never refunded back even if visa is not issued.
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Its not reality just a big hoax to kill time. In reality India is our bitter enemy, who can explain killing in kashmir, siachin, water choratage in pakistan, terrorism in pakistan…………..list goes on
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Let them sign any documents, procedures will be same for pakistanis in India. Visa issuing officer and the Immigration officer in India will decide whether the Pakistanis can be allowed or not?.
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to bury bitter past or to unearth bitter past..lenient visa means more terrorist.
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India and Pakistan were never enemies on public level; but on the level of governments, Armies and some religious extremists.
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This is one of the significant milestone in the chequered Indo-Pak relationship. Lets wish, the normalisation process continues unhindered, inspite of any impediments faced en route. moving forward is the way to keep going.don’t look back.
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@Haris Chaudhry:
Do you live in or outside?. . I ask this because your opinion is contradictory to the opinions of Pakistanis, but it is very true, proper and honest. These set of values and qualities we see rarely. Thanks for expressing your honest view.
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@Haris Chaudhry:
@Thomas:
I too feel the same..
…Haris Chaudhry..you are needed in Pakistan…
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@Tahawar:
I agree. This visa policy should be scrapped immediately
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Let there be peace. Peace with a caveat (against USA & UK perfidy). There is an Arabic saying: “When you are resting in the desert, faith in Allah, but keep the camel tied.” Salams
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