New India-Pakistan Liberalized Visa Pact: Step To Boost Bilateral Ties

India and Pakistan have signed the much-awaited liberalized visa agreement, introducing for the first time group tourist and pilgrim visas, separate visa for businessmen and visa on arrival for those over 65 years of age.

The new pact, signed between External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, replaces a 38-year-old restrictive visa agreement and will pave the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people to people contacts and boost trade. While there was no time-frame for issuance of non-diplomatic visas, the new pact says that visa has to be issued with a period of not exceeding 45 days of application.

Terms and Benefits

Under the new regime, one can visit five places instead of the three at present and those above 65 years of age and children below 12 years of age and "eminent" businessmen are exempted from police reporting.

Under the category of visitor visa, earlier only single entry visa for three months used to be issued for meeting relatives, friends, business or other legitimate purpose. Moreover, visa could be only issued for longer period not exceeding one year if owing to the nature of work or business.

Under the new pact, single entry visa is to be issued for six months but stay should not exceed three months at a time and for five places.

Under a new Category II, a visitor visa for a maximum five specified places may be issued for a longer period, up to two years with multiple entries to senior citizens (those above 65 years), spouses of a national of one country married to a person of another country and children below 12 years of age accompanying parents as given earlier.

The new group tourist visa will be issued for not less than 10 people and not more than 50 people. This visa will be valid for 30 days and will have to be applied through tour operators, registered by the two governments.

New Group Tourist Visa

The new Group Tourist visa will be issued for not less than 10 people and not more than 50 people. This visa will be valid for 30 days and will have to be applied through tour operators, registered by the two governments.

The Group Tourist visa facility will also be available to students of educational institutions of both countries. However, this will be a tourist visa only and not for seeking admission in educational institutions of either country. There are two categories for Business visa. Businessmen with an income of Pakistan Rupees half million or equivalent per annum or annual turnover/gross sale of Pakistan Rupees three million or equivalent will be given one year business visa, with five places for up to four entries.

In Category II, businessmen with an income of at least Pakistan Rupees five million or equivalent per annum or turnover of Pakistan Rupees thirty million or equivalent per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visas for Upton ten places, with exemption from police reporting.

The visa shall specify that the period of stay of the businessman at a time shall not exceed 30 days. The maximum time taken in processing of a business visa will not exceed more than five weeks.

Visits to Religious Shrines

In what would be a real joy for people from both sides who want to visit religious places across the border, Pilgrim visas will be issued to those intending to visit religious shrines as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, or any future revision to the Protocol.

Such visas will need to be applied at least 45 days before the commencement of the intended tour. The visas will be issued at least ten days before the commencement of travel. These visas will be issued for a single entry, restricted to 15 days validity and would be non-extendable.

Under the new pact, persons of more than 65 years of age will be given visa on arrival at Attari/Wagha checkpoint for 45 days. This visa will be non-extendable and non-convertible.

Earlier, people had to enter and exit through the same route and have to use same mode of travel for onward and return journey. Exemptions were made on case to case basis. However, under the new scheme, people can enter and exit from different check posts and change in mode of travel will also be permitted.

Checkpoints for Traveling by Air

However, this is subject to the exception that Exit from Wagah/Attari, by road (on Foot) cannot be accepted, unless the entry was also by foot via Attari/Wagah. The checkpoints for those traveling by air has changed. While earlier, one could fly in at Mumbai, Delhi and Amritsar, under the new pact, one can fly in at Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

With respect to police registration, the new pact says that bona fide businessmen, not in exemption from police reporting (EPR) category, may depute their authorized representatives for reporting.

The new visa agreement was supposed to be signed in May during the Home/Interior Secretary-levels talks held here but got postponed after Pakistan said it wanted to sign at political level.

Greater Understanding

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said the time has come for India and Pakistan to show greater understanding of each other’s concerns and sensitivities and to “move beyond reiteration of their positions to more substantive results” in the peace process.

He said that finding amicable and just solutions to resolve outstanding issues was important for Pakistan and India to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region. In this regard, Zardari suggested the revival of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism comprising representatives of the foreign ministries, home and interior ministries and intelligence agencies of the two countries.

Multifaceted cooperation between the two sides is imperative for socio-economic development of people and to cope with the “common enemy” of terrorism, he said.

Pointing to the need to fight terrorism jointly, Zardari said Pakistan “stood resolute to fight it until the finish.”

Zardari renewed his call for India and Pakistan to make determined efforts for “friendly, cooperative and good neighborly relations” and for “treading the path of productive and result-oriented dialogue.”

In a separate meeting with Krishna, Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf expressed confidence that bilateral relations will improve and move forward “as we have set a direction.” Noting that both countries desire good relations, Ashraf said: “We must learn from the past. We cannot change neighbors.”

“No doubt Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek and other issues need to be resolved” but we need to have a positive approach to resolve them, he said. Ashraf too said terrorism is a “common enemy” of both countries.

He said there is political consensus in Pakistan on having good relations with India. Ashraf also extended an invitation to the Indian prime minister to visit Pakistan.

Comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness Scheme

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pitched for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness scheme as there were indications that terrorist groups are maintaining their ability to use the sea route. He also said that there were increasing infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir.

“In Jammu and Kashmir, we are beginning to see increasing infiltration attempts, across the Line of Control and even the International Border. There are also indications about terrorist groups maintaining their ability to use the sea route.

“Vigilance, therefore, needs to be exercised not only on our land borders but along the coast line as well. The comprehensive scheme of Maritime Domain Awareness to be led by the Navy would help strengthen coastal vigilance, whereas deployment of more permanent border obstacles and better sensors could improve the situation along the land borders,” he said at the conference organized by Intelligence Bureau. Although the Prime Minister did not name any terror outfit, the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit had used the sea route to infiltrate into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a shooting spree killing more than 160 persons. He also said that terror threat in the hinterland continues to be a cause for worry.

Ray of Hope

In addition to boosting bilateral trade ties, it will promote people-to-people contacts in a big way. The political climate in South Asia is bound to get a new boost once people in large numbers are able to meet each other and exchange their thoughts and ideas on a frequent basis.

The idea of promoting people-to-people contacts is basically aimed at bringing about pressure on the ruling class on both sides to take decisions in accordance with the wishes of their citizens. The liberalized regime will no doubt enable easier travel and greatly facilitate people-to-people contact. This measure must be heartily welcomed.

Growing Massacre in Karachi

The ongoing massacre in Karachi and killings of dozens of people in a suicide attack on a mosque in Jamrud (in Khyber Agency) are, in fact, part of the same tragedy although they appear to be two separate incidents, which should be attributed to incapability of the leadership and the poorest governance. The concern expressed by the highest leadership of the country did not cast any impact on the tragic situation in Karachi. The terrorists are still dominating the city. The common people are being kidnapped and killed after they are made to disembark from the buses. The security institutions are helpless while worthy federal interior minister after cursing the terrorists has threatened that the government is giving them last chance.
Role of Islamic World
Probably a situation worst than the present one cannot be imagined in the state that the biggest military and nuclear power of the Islamic world is unable to do anything except expressing shock and grief, showing helplessness and cursing the terrorists. The statements of Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik have become proverbs. However, the talk of the president with Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain is surprising that the terrorists will even burn our houses if we are not united. If the media have not distorted the statement attributed to the president, what else except expression of helplessness it can be called.
A simple question is that as to why the government considered indiscriminate use of military power justified in Swat and other tribal areas. Why it thought it necessary to deal with the challenges posed to the writ of the government with force? Why it considered use of force against terrorists in Karachi, which is trade and economic hub of the country, as unnecessary although Karachi is like a heart for the economy and deterioration of situation in Karachi is badly affecting the entire country. The apparent reason is that the government wanted to get appeasement of international powers through indiscriminate use of force in Swat and other areas while it is not the same in case of Karachi. Therefore, falling dead bodies, deserting houses and cries of women and children have failed to persuade the government to take serious steps for establishing peace in Karachi.
Federal interior minister still says he is giving last chance to terrorists. However, the anti-peace elements will probably be certain that the last chance is not being given to them for the last time so perhaps they will be thinking it unnecessary to pay heed to such remarks. The expression of helplessness by the government and reiteration of accusations by MQM throw some light on situation in Karachi that powerful federal and provincial ministers are present behind those who are playing with the peace of the city. MQM's accusations concerning Intelligence Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency are also worth consideration. In such a situation, the demand of Pakistan Muslim League-N President Nawaz Sharif appears to be justified that intelligence reports on Karachi situation should be presented in the parliament to help people's representatives to become aware of the situation in the city. If the power of people's representation (representatives) is used to resolve problems in Karachi, it will certainly give some relief to the people of Karachi and they will be able to come out of helplessness and isolation.
Poor Law-and-Order Situation
The basic causes of poor law-and-order situation in Karachi and northern (tribal) areas, worst unrest and lawlessness need to be taken into account afresh. The joint resolution of parliament in the wake of so-called war on terror should be implemented and it should be realized that we have got nothing except threats, apprehensions, reservations, problems and crises by becoming part of the US war. The impacts of the war have now spread to entire country. The law-and-order is absent, economy destructed, plight of people ill and government's writ eroded. It is the incapability of the leadership that it is highlighting the problems but not proposing their appropriate solution. The result of worst governance is that justice is prevailing and corruption, nepotism and plunder of national resources are becoming temperament of the nation and new records are being built in this regard.
The constitution and law have become a joke while judiciary has been dishonored. These are the bad results of poor and weak governance that the groups involved in loot and plunder are taking the cities hostage by becoming united and organized in the form of organizations. Ethnic prejudices have spread and society as a whole is disintegrated. The international media has commented rightly on the situation in Karachi that people of the city who are in a state of helplessness are waiting for a savior. The traders' community in the city is seeking the Army's help. Obviously, the Army cannot take any step on its own. As for the leadership, it will perhaps take considerable time to understand that protection of life and property of the citizens is beyond political interests, and politics is not meant to mislead the people through promises, luring and deceitful slogans.
Delivering Complete Justice
The fulfillment of promises made by rulers with the masses are attributed to the establishment of peace, serious steps taken for the welfare and betterment of the people, elimination of fear and delivering complete justice. The real politics is name of giving such concepts a practical shape. Being a Muslim, we are bound not to deviate from the commandments of God, enforce on our lives orders of God for the welfare of human beings, religious benefits and salvation in the world hereinafter and bring the human beings to the worship of God by getting them rid of every type of slavery of human beings.
The struggle for the establishment of Pakistan was for such a state where the Muslims will be able to highlight truthfulness of religion by giving Islam's way of life a practical shape. It is evident that we have caused harm to ourselves by deviating from the orders of God. The dominating class, which is indulged in merry making, is living life of kings and it will perhaps not be able to realize these facts. However, the people, who are facing hardships and worries, can adopt the course of collective forgiveness. If we adjure collective sins today and make a resolve to elect a pious leadership, it is very much likely that we escape from the clutches of nature and see the era of a leadership having approach in line with national objectives by getting rid of bad governance and anguish of incapable rulers.

Pakistan-US Agreement on Counterterrorism Cooperation

The fourth session of the Pakistan-US Working Group on Counterterrorism was held in Islamabad on 5 July. The Pakistani delegation was led by Interior Minister Rehman Malik while William Brownfield, US assistant secretary of state for international law enforcement and narcotics affairs, led the US delegation. At the session, Pakistan and the United States agreed on the need for joint efforts to continue strategic talks, to resolve visa problems, and to curb drug trafficking. Moreover, complying with the US demand, Pakistan banned the export of nitrate, which is used in preparing landmines, to Afghanistan. However, the United States assured to enhance Pakistani security agencies' capability.
Addressing the joint news conference at the conclusion of the talks, Interior Minister Rehman Malik welcomed the resumption of talks between Pakistan and the United States. On this occasion, William Brownfield assured to support Pakistani Government's efforts against terrorism. The meeting decided to form a joint task force to eliminate the explosive devices.
Curbing Narcotics Trafficking
The agreement between Pakistan and the United States on strategy and steps against terrorism indicates that, despite the differences on several issues, some dialogue between the two countries is going on, which is a welcome development in the sense that it will not only help resolve these issues but will also help improve relations between the two countries. Narcotics trafficking is a major issue of this region as well as of the rest of the world. The Pakistan-US agreement on curbing narcotics trafficking is an encouraging development. The need of the hour is that the rest of the world too played its due role in this regard so that the longstanding dream of forming a drugs free global society could be materialized.
The ban on export of nitrate, which is used in preparing landmines, to Afghanistan, is a welcome step. The use of landmines in wars dates back to a long time ago. The use of the landmines in the prevailing situation in Afghanistan can bear devastating results. However, the United States should gain an assurance from the Karzai government that the terrorists would not be able to obtain the chemical, used in preparing landmines, from somewhere else.
Common Interest
During his unannounced visit of Afghanistan, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has said that Pakistan's and Afghanistan's working jointly is in the interest of both the countries. However, President Hamid Karzai is unable to understand that. In his meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, he expressed grave concern over the alleged shelling in Afghanistan from the Pakistani areas. It is pertinent to mention here that, a few days ago, several hundred Afghan terrorists invaded Pakistani area and reaction was shown from this side of the border.
Speaking in this connection, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the intervention and supply of weapons in Pakistan from Afghanistan needs to be stopped. He added that our borders have been violated five times from the Afghanistan side.
Eliminating Terrorism
David Petraeus, commander of the US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has said that the foreign forces will focus attention on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the coming months. It is imperative that the NATO forces not only stopped violations of the Durand Line but also enforced measures to prevent the terrorists from infiltrating into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
The United States can give a new dimension to the cooperation against terrorism by showing progress on these matters. That will also pave way for normalizing the relations between Pakistan and the United States once again.

South Asian Region Caught in Interminable Strife

Pakistan and Afghanistan are not the only centers of violence in the South Asian region. This problem has also affected countries like China, Iran, and India. Separatist groups use heavy weapons despite the fact that all these countries have enormous economic and military power. These militant groups have immense organizational strength to implement their ideological agenda as well.

Jindullah is active in Iran, while there are many active underground groups in Xinjiang, the eastern province of China. Jindullah is working on turning Seestan, in Iranian Balochistan, into a separate country from Iran. Muslim separatists in Xinjiang are dreaming of becoming a Muslim state separate from China. These separatist movements, which are going on in Iran and China, are tacitly supported by Western countries, while the separatist movement in Kashmir against India is supported by Pakistan.

Increased Maoist Activities
Maoist separatists have increased their activities during recent months. Rather, these separatists have emerged as a major threat to the solidarity and security of India. Even the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has issued statements indicating that the activities of the Maoist separatists have reached a dangerous point. Summer Halinker, a renowned journalist of India, has revealed some very shocking facts and figures on this issue in his recent article published in the Hindustan Times. The author says that, according to the facts and figures from 2007 to January.2010, 436 persons were killed by jihadist groups. They include those Pakistanis who died in the 'Samjhota Express', while the Maoist rebels killed 1,524 persons. J K Pillai, the Indian home secretary, addressed a workshop at The Institute of Defense Studies in New Delhi and disclosed that Maoist rebels are working on an organized plan of creating disruption.

According to this plan, they want to exercise so much influence in India by the year 2050 that they will be able to takeover the central government. At present, the annual budget of the Maoist rebels was approximately Rs. 14 billion and they were being provided military training by some former Army officers. The strategy of the Maoist rebels is to gradually spread their influence all over India and, then, take complete control over Indian cities. The Indian home secretary also revealed that Maoist rebels have taken control over tens of thousands of square miles, and India would need to launch a military operation to reclaim that land. This operation might take more than ten years. Current military operations have not inflicted much loss to the Maoist rebels.

The interesting fact is that the Indian Government has not blamed any foreign power so far of aiding and abetting the Maoist rebels against India. But the Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has openly and clearly repeated the allegation that India is involved in the Lahore blasts. India has so far not expressed any concern about the ongoing unrest in Pakistan.

As a matter of fact, the top level Indian leadership taunts Pakistan by saying that it is reaping what it has sown. But the scenario created by the Maoist rebels clearly shows that if India does not tackle the Maoist rebels, New Delhi, which has become an economic, political, and military giant, could be destroyed within a few decades because of civil conflict.

The militancy going on in the tribal areas of Pakistan is no less than the militancy of the Maoist rebels in India. But geographically this militancy is limited to the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Therefore, it could be easily said that Pakistan will soon be able to control the Taliban in the urban areas as well as important business centers by making a bit more effort.

India-Pakistan Conflict
However, it is also a fact that the conflict between India and Pakistan and, particularly, the failure of dialogue between the two countries, further encourages and strengthens these antistate forces, which preach that the solution to all problems between India and Pakistan lies in the use of weapons. If critically analyzed, permanent peace in the region lies in the normalization of relations between India and Pakistan. And relations between the two countries can never be normalized unless both countries resolve all outstanding issues between them. The solution to these issues could only be found if both countries build up mutual trust and confidence. This mutual trust can only be built through an unobstructed and continuous process of dialogue.

There is no dearth of elements in either country which are ever-ready to be exploited by extremist forces. The way Indian citizens were attacked in Afghanistan just a few days ago, followed by terrorist attacks on Pakistani citizens within Pakistan, confirmed that extremist elements, who believe only in violent action and reaction, are present not only in both countries, but are very effective as well.

The foreign secretary-level talks were a golden opportunity to discuss these issues, but they were wasted by India's obduracy. Now the mood of the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi/Islamabad is changing. Relations between Pakistan and the United States have improved. The United States has, for the first time, admitted Pakistani interests in Afghanistan. The US general are openly admitting that Pakistan has legitimate geopolitical interests in Afghanistan and these interests should be respected.

Need of Hour
The best policy for India against this background would be to show some flexibility in improving relations with Pakistan so that Pakistan could, in reciprocity, admit the legitimate interests of India in Afghanistan. Otherwise, both countries will continue to waste their resources in destroying each other.

The conflict between the two countries is nothing more than a deficit bargain. It is high time that Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Iran, and China formed a regional block to fight terrorism so that western forces could be persuaded to leave the region.

Pakistan's Antics Against India as Attempts To Cover Up Failures

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has once again made a mockery of India by saying that the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is extending support to terrorist activities in Pakistan. He added: "We are investigating into the role of this intelligence agency into creating unrest in Baluchistan."
A few months ago when Pakistan leveled such an allegation, India commented in the October 2009 editorial that Pakistan is trying to be smart by concealing its failure to foil the attempts by terrorist groups like the Taliban to spread violence in its territory. The discerning Pakistani public also is aware how their leadership is misleading them by indulging in falsehood.

Nefarious Aggressive Designs of Pakistan
There exists a general belief in India that "We wish we could retaliate nefarious aggressive designs of Pakistan then we would not have been subjected to terrorist violence spread across India." In fact, India faltered when it agreed to the incorporation of the reference to the Baluchistan issue in the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at Sharm-el Sheikh wherein it was stated that terrorism will not be included in the "composite dialogue with Pakistan." In this context, Manmohan Singh put forward the explanation, "how will Pakistan prove our involvement in Baluchistan when we are doing nothing there?"
Nevertheless, this provided an opportunity to Pakistan to level the charge against India. Malik even started saying that Pakistan is in possession of hard evidences of India's involvement in Baluchistan and the same can be produced before India at any forum. Notwithstanding all such claims, Pakistan has failed to bring them forward before India.

India's Non-Violence Approach
India is known for its history that even as it propagated its spiritualism and knowledge through saints and sages. Yet, it never mounted any military offensive in any part of the world. On contrary, the monarchs of India have been such that King Ashoka, extremely distressed over widespread bloodshed in the battle of Kalinga, abandoned the sword and adopted the path of non-violence by embracing Buddhism.
Prithviraj Chauhan pardoned Muhammad Ghori who invaded India 17 times and paid the penalty for his forgiveness when he was defeated in Ghori's 18th invasion. He was taken captive and his eyes were extracted. The Mughals invaded India and they settled here. In 1947, when Pakistan attacked Kashmir and when the Indian forces marched forward by pushing back Pakistan, Jawaharlal Nehru, showing magnanimity, affected the cease-fire and took the issue to the United Nations. As a consequence, one-third of Kashmir remained under illegal occupation of Pakistan.
In 1971, Indira Gandhi, exhibiting large heartedness and a sense of pardon, released 90,000 Pakistani troops captured by India. She displayed this quality of forgiveness when at the Shimla Conference Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto made entreaties to her saying, "With what face I will go before the Pakistanis empty handed."
Atal Behari Vajpayee also, in the wake of terrorist attack on Parliament, declared to go for a "do or die" war. Diplomatic relations with Pakistan were severed, air, road, and rail services were suspended, but later forces were withdrawn from the border. Exhibiting magnanimity, after some time all these services that remained suspended were resumed ultimately. In the name of "Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai" slogan, China grabbed 60,000 sq. mile territory of India. Even now it indulged in incursions along the Indian border. We are promoting trade ties with it, but failed to regain our territory.
In so far as the intelligence agencies is concerned, they failed to give advance input to the government with regard to terrorist attacks on the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, nor for that matter Parliament. They could not gather advance information regarding terrorist attacks on Delhi and Mumbai either. Had our successive governments and the intelligence agencies the potential to carry out any kind of aggressive action we would have long ago resolved the Kashmir problem and wiped out terrorist training camps being run in Pakistan.
The Pakistani prime minister and the interior minister are deliberately terming India valiant. But, notwithstanding all this, if Pakistan is doing so in order to cover up its failures, then India also is helpless.
Nonetheless, such statements must delight the Indian Government and those RAW officials who are being awarded such a big certificate of creating unrest and disturbance in Pakistan even after their actually doing nothing in that country.