Clearly, making visas easier to obtain for businessmen is a welcome move (though it is yet to be formally approved by both the governments). Once this is in place, the countries might want to give a thought to extending the same courtesy to those in the fields of sports, education and arts and entertainment. One possible move could be to persuade the Indian Premier League to re-allow Pakistani cricketers to come to India and take part in the Twenty20 tournament. Increased person-to-person contact will serve to weaken the hawks on both sides of the border.
The visa relaxation, once implemented, could promote greater trade between the two neighbours. Illegal trade that is routed through Dubai and Singapore costs the two countries about $2 billion a year. Pakistan will now also remove further items from the list of goods that India is not allowed to import from here. The hope is that this will eventually lead to tariff-free trade between the two countries. Eventually, closer economic ties will force more political cooperation. As the economic destinies of the two countries become ever more closely intertwined, that will make the thought a political standoff increasingly unpalatable.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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Why should they we allow corrupt match fixing pakistani players into india? India had nothing to gain by inviting any pakistani over. All we get is death from you.
it is sad that a well meaning gesture from across the border is met with snide remarks from indians. who said only pakistan houses the illiterates...we have more illiterates among us
@Sad but true: who are you to not allow players to india. you do not represent the the majority of indians. come out of your fixed ideas and grow up
@Sad but true: Dude,their sick cricketers are not welcomed,not now,and never in future.Let them play on gaddafi stadium.
There is peace in air now which both nations seriously longed for a long time.Wish it advance and prosper for a good.With peace comes progress and better future for poverty ridden two nations.Our common enemy is poverty and Let's unite to fight against poverty.Though current steps took us 60 years yet it's never to late to start a new beginning of peaceful, progressive and friendly relationships.
ET: the whole world knows that when India and Pakistan inch closer, your establishment will carry out a dramatic incident in India.
As for Pak cricketers, they will not be welcome unless and until they apologies for their rude remarks.