Journalists of The Press Trust of India and The Hindu receive letters saying their visas will not be renewed. PHOTO: FILE
The move came amid simmering tensions between Pakistan's powerful military and a civilian government that appears dovish towards archrival India, where Hindu nationalist opposition leader Narendra Modi appears set to win a general election.
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.
India term Pakistan’s move as retrograde
The ministry of external affairs India issued a statement on Wednesday terming Pakistan’s move as regrettable, unfortunate. The correspondents have been asked to leave prematurely and suddenly only a few months after their arrival in Pakistan, reads the statement.
The statement further lamented that not allowing independent journalists to function is a retrograde step especially as free flow of information between India and Pakistan has long been recognized as an important confidence building measure.
Pakistan has become an increasingly dangerous place for journalists to operate, but restrictions put on Indian reporters' movements are stricter than for other foreign journalists.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has repeatedly said publicly that he wants to improve relations with India and has pledged to improve press freedoms. But Pakistan's military remains deeply suspicious of both journalists and India.
The governments of the two countries have a reciprocal arrangement allowing two correspondents from each country to be stationed in the other's capital.
Pakistani journalists face much greater threats than foreigners. At least 34 Pakistani journalists have been killed for their work since Pakistan returned to democracy in 2008, but in only one case has the killer been convicted.
Last year, the government expelled a reporter from The New York Times.
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"VPakistan tells two Indian journalists to leave within week" =+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I can now share the reason...it is to protect these journalists from Polio in Pakistan.
Tribune teach ur staff how to write news.Shame on you guys..learn the basics first...!!!
"But Pakistan’s military remains deeply suspicious of both journalists and India." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Corrected:But Pakistan’s military remains deeply suspicious of both Pakistani and non Pakistani journalists and India.
"Pakistan has become an increasingly dangerous place for journalists to operate, but restrictions put on Indian reporters’ movements are stricter than for other foreign journalists." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Viz they can only translate Govt and ISPR handouts into Hindi. Otherwise their visas are cancelled.
"The move came amid simmering tensions between Pakistan’s powerful military and a civilian government that appears dovish towards archrival India" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Interesting the simmering tensions between India and Pakistan have been replaced by simmering tensions between the militray and civilian Govt in Pakistan. Will RawalPindi open an Embassy in Islamabad?:)
Forgot to mention, being Pakistani in India is not safe at all. It is a rough country, more so to some extent than Pakistan and they have a powerful propaganda machine which the common Indian buys into and if they suspect you are in particular a Pakistani male, watch out you could be in danger. For females not so bad but still need to be cautious as even Indians can tell from your mannerism, way you speak that you are not local. Noticed that Indians only give visas to female muslims never any male muslims who have links to Pakistan. Also they would just consider you a spy for Pakistan. Definitely journalists from India or anyone working in Pakistan from India would definitely have some hidden agenda going on, as with internet, there seriously no need to work as an Indian in Pakistan if you are genuine come through proper channels purely as a tourist. Besides if you really want to know what is going on just ask your friends in US of A but heard relations with USA and India have gone sour lately.
@Alann: Sorry to say, but Jawed Naqvi is an Indian.
However the fact is that Pakistani journalists are visiting India regardless of the quota and that too without the 3-city restriction as you can see from the columns of Tahir Mehdi on the recently concluded elections on Dawn.
Pakistan can take their journalist Jawed Naqvi back. Oops - forgot! He's actually Indian. Never mind.
Never mind whether they are from India or tumbakto, the question one must ask, is Pakistan a democracy or not. If the answer is yes, then Press should be allowed to opearte freely and even given the security they need. How come that the Press reports very little about the activities of the army in KPK and Baluchistan regions; the absence of Press- is the straight answer. There must be a transparency in a democracy. The Press usualy are not granted the diplomatic visa, therefore if the journalists from India have committed some criminal acts then they should be treated like other journalists. Does this action mean that the sponsors of the journalists cannot send replacements? In any case, one hopes for Pakistan sake that it will not follow the route of the Egyptian High Priest, persecuting Al Jazeera journalists and the democraticaly elected President and his political party..
Rex Minor
@Usman: It failed to mention because it did not happen.
@munawar
This might interest you .
http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102457/A-Foreign-Correspondent-From-India-as-Suspect-in-Pakistan.aspx
@writer Pakistanis and Indians look different, can tell if its a foreigner? How delusional are you which world do you live in? Both country people look the same you have your share of fair/olives/dusky/dark so does india. India though has more diversity coz it stretches from himalayalas to Punjab/gun/rajastan in east to north east Meghalaya to down south till srilanka. We have our share of Asian eyed people and many more ethnicities too. Btw Go ask a westerner does he find any difference, people of this subcontinent are called "desi" we look the same to them. They can't differentiate nor can any pakistani or indian until they speak their language of introduce their country of origin. @reddy adnans visa was expired. he renewed it and is still staying in india.
@usman786: Well there is a reason there is an agreement between two countries to permit 2 journalusts. Why have such an agreement and then fail to honor it?
@writer: Indians cannot blend inPakistan? Oh right because you all are do fair? Absurd, how do you suppose so many Pakistanus pass them off as Indians?
Secondly Nawaz talks about improving relations with India but neither does he send the 2 permisdible journalysts to India nor does ge allow Zinfian journslusts to stay. His u- tyrn on trade after having sent Shahbaz to India are also well known. Actions doesk louder than words
ET why did you edit the comment? @ Munawar "he met chief minister at his office" the chief ministers office is in india not Pakistan so no one is banned here. And the chief minister doesn't fox trot like party spokesperson to different channel instead channels and journalists come to him for interviews if you meant otherwise. " his first meeting with large international group" any foreign country journalist in india is an international journalist including Pakistan. "I am still saying there is no Pakistani journalist in india since 2007" surely then those Pakistani journalist who interviewed him in delhi are non state actors to you then? And mind you this is just one interview. Pakistani journalist have done recent interviews with Dilip kumar, adnan Sami, lata mangeshkar apart from religious imams and political leaders. They also have affiliates and ground reporters here. One of them them even worked for NDTV indian channel. So your statement is false http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw50cpon-the-front-21-dec-2012-lata-mangeshkar-indian-singer-exclusive-interview-dunya-news-watch-latest-enews. Surely if no Pakistani journalist are allowed in india then kamran shahid must be indian right?
So where are the Pakis who were crying foul when Shiv Shena asked Adnan Sami leave after his Visa had expired?
Journalists operate openly, only a paranoid state would be afraid of them. This is attempt by GHQ to damage improving Indo-Pak relations.
@faisal awan: fully agree. .though an Indian I am unable to understand the logic of bringing in civil - military tensions in the story and that to in the opening statement. ...Instead of giving reasons for expulsions of journalists.
@Mega: yes ...but our journalists sell themselves to elevate a certain party to government and to ask questions in parliament. ..still we are holier than thou. truth is Pakistan journalist are not for sale and ready to sacrifice their lives.
@ABKhan: Mr. Khan Apollo Hospital in New Delhi, has alone transplanted 500 livers for Pakistani patients. There are thousands of Pakistanis that came to India for treatment and surgeries over the years. Maybe we should all send them all back right? You need to open your and see what whole world thinks about you!
Thanks God ,At least they are sending back Indian journalist in one piece and alive !
It is a right move for national security. Ban all journalist from India.In past Indian Journalist and some members of diplomatic mission were involved in spying that's why they should be refused to get into our country.
@Polpot: While culprits of Mumbai Attack enjoy freedom in so called secular India.
@munawar For your information, Jawed Naqvi of Dawn lives in Delhi since past several years.
@faisal awan:
Rubbish .. the military/ISI has a long history of controlling/manipulating journalist and foreign policy in Pakistan.
Snehesh Alex Philip was writing an investigative piece on Dawood Ibrahim. Maybe he got uncomfortably close to the truth.
@mega.."he met with visiting Pakistani journalists in the Chief Minister’s office, his first meeting with such a large international media group." they were on special visit to PM house for few days..i am still saying there is no pakistani journalist in india since 2007....
Does Pakistani media knows what it is reporting? It seems, the newspapers and TV in Pakistani require basci level training in how to report when it concerns the country. Will any other countires media ever report this story like this? Please grow up and learn how other countries media reports
@munawar yes we are a democracy and have freedom of press and don't ban social media or internet sites like our neighbour country. If we don't how did these pakistani journalist interview ak in delhi? Stop lying time for introspection.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-230187-Unimpressive-Kejriwal-meets-Pakistani-journalists-in-Delhi. This is 2014 February article. So 2007 huh? Very funny. Back at you.
And they call this democracy.
@Mega..there is no pakistani journalist in india since 2007...freedom of press..democracy..huh? you indians are really funny
whats interest of those newspapers in Pakistan. Why can not they hire Pak journalist?
There should be a reason to expell the Journalist. But it is better to get out from that Land as you never know, you will have to pay for the crime which you have not commited.
According to Indians, Pakistan is the worst country and their country is heaven. Send all of them back to their heaven
i Tthink the Indian journalists got expelled cause they asked too many questions about the progress of the trail on the Pakistanis accused in the Mumbai attack. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ At least they would not return in a coffin.
Every country has right to protect its sovereignty. Why does the report failed to mentioned the role of some journalists acting as foreign spy.
Shows how much freedom of press there is in pakistan. India must send back all pakistani journalist too. No use dealing with rubber stamp civilian democracy when actual controller/decider ruling the roost is estab.
Of course any country's Army would be suspicious of a neighbouring countries journalists, it is common sense. Also for their personal safety and not being familiar with the country or being able to blend in as a local as people can tell if you are foreigner even if some say Indians look Pakistanis, Pakistanis can tell it is best for their safety and to maintain good relations they leave.
Useless story with wrong inclusion of Army in petty matter. every county in world have strict criteria for renewal of visa. Visit Visa are for specific time and on its expiry, they are not normally renewed.