The measures to ease cross-border travel come in the wake of rising tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The landmark visa agreement was sealed last month, when the interior ministers from both countries met in New Delhi and decided to institute measures making cross-border travel easier.
The new agreement allows Pakistanis aged over 65 to arrive at the Attari/Wagah land border dividing the Punjab region and apply for a single-entry Indian visa for a duration of up to 45 days.
"The process to issue visas on arrival to Pakistani senior citizens has begun," an Indian customs official on the border told AFP.
The official, who declined to give his name, refused to say if any Pakistanis had made use of the facility so far.
The measures to ease cross-border travel come in the wake of rising tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours, after India last week accused Pakistani troops of killing two of its troops, one of whom was beheaded.
Two Pakistani soldiers were killed by Indian firing in the last nine days along the Line of Control (LoC).
The resumed talks two years ago, after New Delhi suspended negotiations following militant attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 that killed 166 people.
COMMENTS (28)
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@SHB: Use your brain. 65 is the age of pakistan, so anyone who was born in india but moved to pakistan should be able to visit their place of birth. Also anyone over 65 is less likely to be a terrorist doing a mumbai type of massacre.
@gp65 .: You are right. There is no need for this kind of step.In the first place, there is no need to go to India.
@J. Sandhu: Please grow up. That was almost 65yrs ago. If your mother was twenty yrs old at time ,she must be 85 yrs now. There are not that many 85 yrs old left both in Pakistan and India.Most likely you were born in India and I was born in Pakistan. So we belong to our roots where we were raised and educated. India for me is a foreign country and that's it.
@heera: Yes this is right. It has been put on hold. I do not understand the useful ness of giving visa over age 65 yrs. First how many 65yrs old would like to go to India and why to go to India?I will be interested to see the numbers of visa when ever the process is started.
Personally I would like to go to Dubai , London, or to Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umra. I personally have no connection to India.So this is no big news for me or for my family.
@sameer my mother usually has tears in her eyes when she talks of her home in Pak and the friends she left behind, sure she would like to viist,along with countless others.
@gp65 .: My parents are 79 and 82 and they travel alone all the time between India and US. Are Pakistani less energetic, less healthy or too weak mentally? I don't think so from the look in the images.
The Indian government has earned my respect. Well done!
@Major Saab: "Are they fool ? do they think over 65 person will travel alone ? he/she must be accompanies with some one who is younger to support him/her.."
My parents are 75+ and they travel independently. If someone over 65 is unable to travel independently and needs a younger person to be with them, that younger person will need to get the visa through a regular channel.
Already aborted due to election considerations in India. Tough times ahead for both countries.
India should not stop the system of Visas on arrival. Zardari and Raja Asraf needs this "Visa on arrival" system to be in place. Imagine what a force multiplier it would be if India's G-2 scam Raja & Pakistan's Rental Power scam Raja could combine their forces?
How long this service will work!!
@Sameer: Good question brother!!!
Great move by India. Hope we continue to prosper together and collaborate in all walks of life. Really happy to see this.
How come all the news is of Pakistanis visiting India (hockey players, bollywood etc.) or wanting to go to India? Why no news of Indians wanting to visit Pakistan?
Already Put on hold.!!!
Or not.
Tribune Plz update ur story .India defers visa-on-arrival facility to Pakistani senior citizens
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-defers-visa-on-arrival-facility-to-pakistani-senior-citizens/1/242343.html plz read on www.indiatoday.com
@Major Saab: 65 years old cannot travel alone? What world are you living in. BTW the "Caretakers" of the elderly can take them to the border and their inlaws in India can pick them up from the Indian border. not a rocket science you know
India has put this on hold because of obvious reasons!!! Good step on part of India.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-puts-on-hold-visa-on-arrival-for-Pak-senior-citizens/articleshow/18032698.cms
This proves once again that India is always on a peace path and not a hatred path.
ET,latest update,visa process is put on hold amid tension over LOC as reported by Hindustan Times......
MADE ON HOLD BY INDIA .. ET please update it !
let peace prevail..........lets live and let live :)
Great gesture by the Indian side! I hope the Pakistani government reciprocates!
Very good move. Hope it won't be stopped.
Are they fool ? do they think over 65 person will travel alone ? he/she must be accompanies with some one who is younger to support him/her..
very good step from India, given the current situation.