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.

Steps To Improve India-Pakistan Relations

A meeting of the Pakistan-India Joint Working Group with regard to the travel and trade facilities across the Line of Control (LoC) was held in New Delhi on 18 July where Zahra H. Akbari, director general for South Asia at the Foreign Office, led the Pakistani delegation while Joint Secretary Y.K. Sinha led the Indian delegation. In the meeting, the Cross-LoC Travel and Trade Arrangements were examined so that their effective implementation is ensured and additional steps are taken for the provision of the cross-LoC trade and travel facilities.
Unanimity of Views
The unanimity of views between India and Pakistan for enhancing trade through the Control Line, increase in travel and confidence-building measures is appreciable. It is an indication that difference between Pakistan and India are waning and harmony is growing, which is unavoidable for establishment of peace in this region. It is, however, necessary that effort is made to give the matters agreed upon a practical shape because an agreement for the provision of travel facilities to the people of the Occupied and Azad Kashmir across the Control Line and the promotion of trade between them was also reached earlier during the era of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and perhaps it was also implemented for some duration but this process was later suspended because of the lack of appropriate attention of the two governments and not only the little trade that was going on was suspended rather the hope of the people of the two regions to meet their relatives across the Control Line after decades also died. Therefore, it is necessary that this process is continued this time so that an atmosphere of harmony is created, which is necessary for strengthening the Pakistan-India relations. If seen attentively, such an atmosphere is also necessary for longstanding problems between the two countries. And if this process is to be advanced, this goal can be achieved by increasing the across-the-border travel facilities for people of each other.
Common Interest
New Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has told the Parliamentary Committee on National Security that progress is being made in the relations with India and if it had not been so, the India reaction after the Mumbai blasts would have not been positive. It is a welcome advancement. It is in the interest of both the countries that these contacts are not only maintained rather also enhanced. It is also necessary that care should not be ignored in this process of increasing meetings because both the countries are currently facing terrorism and any carelessness can provide the extremists an opportunity too achieve their nefarious designs.
Some care is being exercised after recent strain in relations with the US that is appropriate. Its proof is it that the Parliamentary Committee on National Security has recommended that citizens of the US and other countries are issued visas from the Foreign Office through one-window. It will be its benefit that a single authority will be authorized to issue visa and obviously will also be answerable for arrival of any disliked personality or person in Pakistan.

It is hoped that this policy of carefulness will yield good results. The Parliamentary Committee on the National Security in its meeting of Monday made some other recommendations as well that need attention e.g. the committee has sought the draft of the Establishment of National Counterterrorism Authority and Anti-Terrorism Act from the Ministry of Interior, the objective of which may be that the immediately and solid planning for checking terrorism is reviewed. The committee has recommended that the Foreign Office should strictly implement the resolutions of the Parliament. It is a good proposal because it is necessary for establishment of the supremacy of parliament in the country that whatever resolution is passed, it is implemented in its letter and spirit.
Demand of Situation
Pakistani Senator Raza Rabbani has said that keeping in view the stance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense, the committee would prepare recommendations for the government. Appropriate proposals will emerge in this way by implementing, which the government will be able to improve the defense and foreign affairs. The committee has also stressed that Pakistan's strategic interests should be given fundamental importance in all policies. It is a fact that there should have been no need to make this recommendation because safeguarding the strategic interests of any country is the top priority of its government. Anyhow, if the committee has now called attention towards it, the monitoring of these matters is necessary. The committee has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that talks with all countries should be held on the basis of equality and sovereignty. This directive too should be implemented because all countries and nations of the world are equal and none has supremacy on the other. Therefore, whenever talks are held or matter is agreed upon with any country, it is should be on the basis of equality.
The need for this directive has perhaps been felt because the US attitude toward Pakistan during the past many decades that Pakistan's assistance is stopped after achievement of the US objectives or sanctions are imposed on Pakistan has created an impression at the public level that the United States has supremacy over Pakistan. The adoption of the policy of equality is also needed to dispel this impression.

India-Pakistan Talks

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao stood together in Islamabad at the end of their two-day talks on 24 June to announce that they had ‘very productive and constructive engagement’ for the resolution of outstanding issues through peaceful, sustained and serious bilateral dialogue.
The joint statement issued by the two foreign secretaries following their talks could be seen as a sign of the positive outcome of the talks as both sides used to issue a brief statement at the conclusion of the past bilateral talks. But this time the two sides not only issued a detailed joint statement but also replied to questions in a rare show of understanding.
Composite Dialogue
India had suspended the composite dialogue with Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai attacks by blaming the Pakistan-based group Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) as a culprit behind the attacks. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, who had met on the sidelines of a regional summit in Bhutan in April 2010, had agreed to revive the official talks and had assigned the foreign secretaries to explore ways to bridge the trust deficit.
India had earlier regularly rebuffed Pakistani calls to resume a substantive dialogue, saying Islamabad has not done enough to tackle militants or bring the Mumbai attack organizers to justice. Pakistan admitted that the attacks were partly planned on its soil, but it denied any official involvement and has arrested several suspects including a leader of the LeT operations chief Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi.
The Pakistani and Indian foreign secretaries originally planned to hold separate press briefings after the talks, but they changed the schedule at the last minute by holding a joint press conference as both sides felt satisfied over the talk results and a need to share something with the media.
Peace and Security Issue
During the talks, India and Pakistan discussed peace and security, including confidence building measures, the Kashmir dispute and promotion of friendly exchanges. Both sides agreed on the resolution of outstanding issues through peaceful, sustained and serious bilateral dialogue. The shadow of the gun and the violence it has unleashed has caused untold sufferings for our people in these years past. This needs to end. The ideology of military conflict should have no place in the paradigm of our relationship in the 21st Century,’ the Indian Secretary for External Affairs Nirupama Rao told reporters, throwing the ball in the Pakistani court to come up with a similar approach.
Rao said: ‘Indeed, this relationship should be characterized by the vocabulary of peace; on ground cooperation in the interest of our peoples, growing trade and economic interaction as well as people to people contacts, and on this let me emphasize, in an atmosphere free of terror and violence.’
Ahead of the talks, India had asked for discussion on terrorism and the Mumbai trial in the Islamabad's talks and the Pakistani side was positive to address to the issues although it was not the subject for the talks of the foreign secretaries. Sources close to the talks said the Indian side raised the Mumbai trial in Pakistan, the alleged training camps of the Kashmiri militants and infiltration into the Indian-controlled Kashmir.
On terrorism, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir said the issue of terrorism requires objectivity; requires to be addressed in a collaborative approach. ‘Terrorism poses a threat to the two countries and to civilized societies. It must be eliminated,’ Bashir said at the joint press conference and added that terrorism and other related issues were discussed.
Confidence Building Measures
The foreign secretaries of the two countries will meet again in New Delhi on a date to be decided through diplomatic channels to prepare for the meeting of the foreign ministers of the two sides in New Delhi in July 2011. More meetings are planned ahead of the foreign ministers' talks. Both Foreign Secretaries agreed to convene a meeting of the Working Group on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) on the Cross Line of Control (LoC), which divides the two countries in the disputed Kashmir region. The Group will recommend measures for strengthening and streamlining the existing trade and travel arrangements across the LoC and propose modalities for introducing additional Cross-LoC CBMs.
The two countries also agreed to the need for promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries. Both sides made progress towards finalization of the Visa Agreement which will help liberalize the visa regime and facilitate people-to-people, business-to-business and sports contacts. The two sides also discussed measures for promoting cooperation in various fields including facilitating visits to religious shrines, media exchanges, holding of sports tournaments and cessation of hostile propaganda against each other.
International Community’s Role
Keeping in view the fruitful foreign secretary talks to bridge the trust gap, the foreign ministers would be in a good position to make some announcements to bring the two nuclear-armed rivals closer and to achieve the goal of peace, security and development in the South Asian region.
The international community, especially regional countries, also encourage the arch-rival Pakistan and India to end their conflict and find out solution through negotiation. It is now widely believed that the situation in Pakistan has encouraged policymakers to act to counter the threat of terrorism which has already claimed lives of 35,000 people including 5,000 security personnel since 2001. Pakistan has also suffered a loss of nearly $60 billion in the same mentioned period and it is a best opportunity for Pakistan to positively respond to the Indian quest for end to armed conflict.

Melting Ice Between India and Pakistan

What will be the nature of relationship between India and Pakistan is a mystery. These relations had almost frozen after the Mumbai terror attack. But the ice appears to melt after the foreign ministers and foreign secretaries meetings. However, Pakistan's insistence was to talk on every matter, including Kashmir. But India very rightly demanded to discuss punishment to the Mumbai terror attack perpetrators. The consensus on this was difficult. This time also at the Thimpu conference, the prevailing suspension was anticipated.

An English news channel revealed that the conference proved to be disastrous. This channel termed it a deadly sin, Pakistani Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir's statement that "India cannot control Hindu terrorism." He, however, said that terrorism should not be linked to any religion.

Restraint and Maturity
Now the picture that is emerging shows absolute restraint and maturity on the part of the Indian delegation. In reply to the media persons' query in Thimpu, whether India has agreed to resume talks with Pakistan combined on every issue, Indian Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, quoting William Shakespeare, said: "What is in a name?" It appears that India has agreed to talk on every matter.

For confidence-building, she also suggests several steps such as interaction between people of both countries, antiterrorism steps, control of narcotics smuggling, trading across the Line of Control, peace, security, etc. She also informed about the resolve to transform these steps into practice. She said that Pakistan had been told that the developments about the Samjhauta Express investigations would be communicated to it and that it should also reciprocate in the same manner.

Mutual Cooperation Required
It is true that mutual cooperation is required for good relationship. When asked that Pakistan has denied permission to the Indian Commission to visit there in respect of the 26/11, she said that the two countries should respect each other's laws. Pakistan has replied the note India sent on 3 February, asking for some clarifications.

Collectively, it is a positive situation, but India has clearly told Pakistan that no third-party interference on Kashmir will be allowed in talks. This indicates that the External Affairs Ministry has agreed to talk on Kashmir. This all is changing for better situation.

Pakistan's Devious Attitude Towards India

Talks, agreements, and commitments only to backtrack later--these have been an important and inherent part of Pakistan's foreign policy. It has been successful in deceiving the world, especially India, with this strategy ever since its inception. India's conventional principles of coexistence, truth, and non-violence were interpreted as signs of weakness by Pakistan. It has, therefore, been desperately trying for the past 62 years to wipe out India from the world map. That explains why it paid little attention to all warnings issued by New Delhi after every terror incident in India, and the necessary proof submitted to it. Pakistan is steeped in mischief. If it does not mend its ways, the situation is likely to go out of control.

Wrong Pakistani Intention
After the horrendous terrorist attack on Mumbai on November 26, 2008, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh refused to entertain any suggestion of a dialogue with Pakistan until all the accused responsible for the crime were severely dealt with. The lackadaisical approach of the Pakistani Government to the issue baffled India and the world. Pressure is being exerted on Pakistan from all corners to end terrorism. Despite Pakistan's attitude, Dr. Singh gave another chance to Pakistan to rectify itself. He had a 40-minute discussion with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Yekaterinburg, Russia on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRIC Summits on June 16. Dr.Singh categorically asked Pakistan not to discriminate among terrorists. A military campaign similar to the anti-Taliban should also be started to wipe out the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba, Al-Badr Mujahidin, Jaish-e-Muhammad, and Jama't-ud-Da'wah Pakistan. Taking a tough stand, Dr. Singh demanded that Pakistan's territory should not be used by terrorists for their war against India. He further expressed the hope that some action will be taken before the two countries hold talks in Egypt in July. The action will establish the credibility of Pakistan.

Pakistani President Zardari maintained silence before the plain talk by Dr. Singh. However, the next day, Pakistani Foreign Minister Malik Ahmad Khan [name as printed] issued a statement expressing Pakistan's disagreement with Dr. Singh. He said that India should refrain from giving such threats. While the foreign minister was giving this advice, Pakistan announced that Zardari would not attend the Egypt meeting in July. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would replace him. This way, Pakistan has made it clear that it does not care a fig about India's warnings.

Dr. Singh expected Pakistan to complete within two months the task it had left undone in the past 62 years. Pakistan has successfully carried out its conspiracy to spread terror first in Punjab, then in Jammu and Kashmir, and later across the country. The mastermind behind the Mumbai attack is roaming about freely in Lahore and Karachi. The Pakistani courts have released terrorist commanders Hafiz Muhammad Sayeed, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, and Zarar Shah for "want of adequate evidence."

Dangerous terrorist organisations like the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad are strengthening themselves right under the nose of the Pakistani Government. Evidently, the government will continue to allow "anti-Indian" activities on its soil, dashing India's hopes. It will always be busy in defensive activities and terrorists will seize the opportunity to indulge in blood curdling incidents like the one in Mumbai.

Violation of Bilateral Talks
The Indian Prime Minister offered friendship to Pakistan in Yekaterinburg to break the deadlock in bilateral talks. No positive results were expected from this gesture. Whenever India raised the question of infiltration on the Line of Control (LoC) by Pakistan-trained terrorists and terrorist activities within India, Pakistan tried to malign India by raising the issue of "Kashmir freedom." It is an established fact that Dr. Singh and also every former Indian prime minister has given Pakistan opportunities to correct its ways, but they could not be availed due to Pakistan's deep-rooted Islamic imperialist designs and its religious obsession with converting India into Pakistan.

Records of the last 62 years will show that whenever India has spoken of peace, dialogues, and agreements, Pakistan has invariably responded either with war, or with terror. The Nehru-Noon Agreement, the river water agreement, cease-fire on the LoC, Tashkent and Shimla agreements, and many other bilateral talks have become victims of this religious thirst. A study of the last 10 years will show that Pakistan has rejected suggestions for joint discussions several times during this short period. Its real motives were, thereby, exposed.

Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee traveled to Lahore in 1999, and started the present series of dialogues with former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The United States and several other countries welcomed the move. They expected Pakistan to adopt the path of peace. However, the ink on the agreement paper had hardly dried Musharraf thrust the Kargil War on India. When Musharraf assumed power after a military coup, Vajpayee held talks with him in Agra in August 2001. Musharraf, however, refused to pay heed to Vajpayee's case on issues such as Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and border infiltration by armed terrorists. He preferred to chant the Kashmir issue instead. The talks failed, and Musharraf left for Pakistan, abandoning the talks midway.

The same year, Pakistan-sponsored terrorists first struck Srinagar, and then Kashmir Assembly. This was followed by a suicide attack on the Indian Parliament. There were enough proofs to demonstrate Pakistan's disregard for a dialogue. As a result, the Armies of India and Pakistan came face-to-face. Vajpayee's farsightedness or the US intervention averted a war. The round of talks were resumed once again after a year. Four routes of Kashmir's LoC were opened. A cease-fire was affected on the borders in November 2003. The Pakistan Army violated this cease-fire several times to send infiltrators into Kashmir. During this dark period, Pakistan-trained terrorists attacked Delhi, Bengaluru, Ayodhya, Nagpur, Jaipur, Mumbai, and other places.

Nurturing Terrorist Organisations
It is a well-known fact that Pakistan tried to absolve itself of the Mumbai attack. Dr Singh will have a dialogue once again with Pakistan in Egypt in July. He expects Pakistan to wipe out all terrorist bases in its country by then. However, Pakistan's motive seems to be dubious. The government is under the control of the Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence [ISI]. Training camps are run there under the supervision of the Army officers. Terrorist organisations are becoming strong under ISI guidance, and following its plans. Billions of US dollars are helping to nurture these Islamic terrorists. To expect Pakistan to flush out terrorism in this situation is wishful thinking. All terrorist organisations supported by the Pakistani Government and nurtured by the ISI are arming themselves like the Afghan Taliban fighters and Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida to spread panic in India.

All these terrorist organisations receive orders from the Pakistan Army. They have already gained a foothold in India, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United States, Iraq, and other countries. Pakistan has today become a wholesale market for supplying terrorists throughout the world.

What should be Done?
It is, therefore, high time for the Indian Prime Minister to tell Pakistan tersely that no talks can be held with it, nor political relations with it be maintained until terrorist training camps in its territory are dismantled and armed infiltration stopped. Pakistan should also hand over to India all terrorists responsible for Pakistan-sponsored terrorist acts in India. While taking this tough stand, India should also threaten to end every trade, travel, medical, and educational relations with Pakistan. Before the prime minister proceeds for Egypt, India should give the necessary warning at the foreign secretary-level talks and prepare itself for breaking off all relationship. If talks are once again resumed without any precondition, the clouds of foreign terror hovering over the country will become thicker.