World

India 'tightens' medical visa rules for Pakistanis

Will grant immediate visas to those who have recommendation from Sartaj Aziz, says India's External Affairs Ministry

News Desk May 11, 2017

Sartaj Aziz. PHOTO: REUTRS

New Delhi has 'tightened' Pakistan medical visa rules amid heightening tension between the nuclear arch-rivals.

Recently, approval of medical visas for Pakistani patients has become difficult as, according to sources, a “go-slow mode” was being practiced.

According to an Indian Express report, India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj announced on Wednesday it would immediately grant medical visas to Pakistani patients whose application was supported by a recommendation letter from Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

ICJ to hold public hearing of Kulbhushan Jadhav's case on May 15

The new medical visa rule, the report said, was in line with unspecified visa restrictions imposed by New Delhi after Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav was given death sentence by a special military court in Pakistan for “espionage and subversive activities” in the country.

“We have suggested that their foreign minister or Foreign Affairs Adviser Sartaj Aziz give a recommendation letter and it will be cleared immediately, without any delay,” said Gopal Baglay.

A recommendation, Baglay added, would ascertain that the requests received from Pakistan were “genuine”.

Kulbhushan Jadhav will not be extradited, Sartaj assures lawmakers

The report claimed New Delhi was silently moving ahead with curbs on visas for Pakistanis visiting India. They have targeted sports persons and are also planning to put artistes on the radar.

Mutual ties and diplomatic atmosphere between Pakistan and India strained after Jadhav’s sentencing, who was arrested on March 3, 2016, during an operation in Balochistan.

Pakistan Army later released his recorded confessional statement in which he admitted to had been working for the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) – India’s primary foreign intelligence agency – to stoke unrest and instability in the country. India denies Jadhav was a RAW agent but admits he was a retired naval officer.

On May 10, India petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stay the death sentence handed to Jadhav. The international court has set May 15 to hold public hearings in the case.

#ICJ PRESS RELEASES: #India institutes proceedings against Pakistan and requests provisional measures https://t.co/tYNEF7LY8k pic.twitter.com/sKWX5EmI9N
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) May 9, 2017

#ICJ will hold hearings in #India v. #Pakistan Case (Request for provisional measures) on Monday 15 May 2017 https://t.co/Kg1POtYhZp pic.twitter.com/k1j85RVZHh
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) May 10, 2017

COMMENTS (9)

bahadurkhan | 7 years ago | Reply @Pakistani: abdul rab nishtar medical college was started in 1951 in Multan, to create capable muslim doctors. Some how even famous persons like Wasim Akram complained that all Pakistani doctors did was to take fees when his wife was sick. Ultimately she was treated in india and singapore. The problem lies elsewhere

Ameer Qaisrani | 7 years ago | Reply @ Vijay K Most of us Pakistanis do not have any hatred for India we want and need good relations with all of our neighbours especially India as if we stand together we can progress a lot

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Prada | 7 years ago | Reply This is not a step in the right direction. The government should have at least given a rationale behind such a move. Without that it seems like a malicious decision. I am disappointed.

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply Its on time to build world level quality health system in Pakistan so pakistani dont need to go abroad for treatment.

Om Prakash | 7 years ago | Reply Sir, I am Indian from Delhi and I am sickened by this attitude of the Indian Govt. Compassion and kindness to the sick and feeble is one of the highest virtues of Hinduism (as it is in Islam and other religions too, I'm sure). To delay or deprive a sick person from treatment has degraded the BJP in my eyes (I am a staunch supporter of BJP). I feel so ashamed of this attitude. There are many other ways to apply political pressure. This is not what we Hindus or Indians are about. I will have to re-think my support for BJP unless they immediately withdraw this visa restriction.

Anand | 7 years ago | Reply @Vijay K As an Indian I feel proud of you. We need more people like you.

Viraf Mehta | 7 years ago | Reply As an Indian I do not feel this is a step in the right direction. A sick person, is a sick person who needs to be treated irrespective of nationality. While I know that Pakistan has back stabbed India many times, as far as this action is concerned, India needs to show compassion. These are my views.

Sikandar Hayyat | 7 years ago | Reply @Vijay K I really appreciate your thoughts. Every sensible Pakistani - Indian would agree with these lines.

Vijay K | 7 years ago | Reply I am an Indian doctor and I do not agree with this step from India. People in need of medical care should not be used as pawns in the diplomatic game. India provides high level of medical care at affordable cost as well as having the advantage of having a common language and culture. Halal meat is available all over India for the patients and their families and even the cost of travel and living expenses are low. People in Pakistan who are well off will go to Dubai or UK for treatment, so they aren't the ones who will be affected. It is the less well off who as such have a difficult life who will be affected. The stories that I have read about experiences of patients and their families coming to India for treatment have all been positive. These people who have come to India carry pleasant memories and good will back to Pakistan. Let us not forget that we have been one people till less than a century ago and we have a lot in common. I do not believe that there is hatred in the hearts of the common man in Pakistan against Indians - this hatred is created by people in power for their vested interests and fueled by other countries who want to sell arms.

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