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| India begins visa-on-arrival deal for Pakistani seniors | India begins visa-on-arrival deal for Pakistani seniors |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| India is to begin issuing visas on arrival to Pakistani senior citizens, under a landmark deal aimed at easing travel between the two countries. | India is to begin issuing visas on arrival to Pakistani senior citizens, under a landmark deal aimed at easing travel between the two countries. |
| Citizens aged over 65 will be issued visas at the Wagah crossing. | Citizens aged over 65 will be issued visas at the Wagah crossing. |
| The move is part of a bid to improve ties between Islamabad and New Delhi, after they were badly damaged by the Mumbai attacks in 2008. | The move is part of a bid to improve ties between Islamabad and New Delhi, after they were badly damaged by the Mumbai attacks in 2008. |
| But there has been fresh tension between the two sides in recent days in the disputed region of Kashmir. | But there has been fresh tension between the two sides in recent days in the disputed region of Kashmir. |
| Two Indian and two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the last week in clashes near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir. | Two Indian and two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the last week in clashes near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir. |
| The violence has plunged the neighbours into the worst crisis in relations since the Mumbai attacks. | The violence has plunged the neighbours into the worst crisis in relations since the Mumbai attacks. |
| On Monday, Indian army chief Bikram Singh directed his commanders to respond "aggressively" to any firing by Pakistani forces in the region and the two sides held a meeting at the border aimed at reducing tensions. | On Monday, Indian army chief Bikram Singh directed his commanders to respond "aggressively" to any firing by Pakistani forces in the region and the two sides held a meeting at the border aimed at reducing tensions. |
| Foot crossing | Foot crossing |
| As per the September deal between the two neighbours, however, India will on Tuesday begin issuing 45-day, single-entry visas to Pakistani senior citizens to visit friends and relatives. | |
| The visas will only be available at the Wagah land border crossing near Lahore. They will be issued every day between 1000 and 1600. | The visas will only be available at the Wagah land border crossing near Lahore. They will be issued every day between 1000 and 1600. |
| Pakistani senior citizens will be allowed to visit a maximum of five places in India except Indian-administered Kashmir, Punjab, Kerala and "other prohibited areas", an Indian statement said. | |
| Only two visas can be obtained each year and the Wagah crossing must be made on foot. | Only two visas can be obtained each year and the Wagah crossing must be made on foot. |
| The visitors will be exempted from reporting to the police, which is mandatory for most Pakistani travellers in India, reports say. | The visitors will be exempted from reporting to the police, which is mandatory for most Pakistani travellers in India, reports say. |
| Correspondents say Indians and Pakistanis find it extremely difficult to travel to each other's countries because of tough visa restrictions, so the new agreement will be widely welcomed. | Correspondents say Indians and Pakistanis find it extremely difficult to travel to each other's countries because of tough visa restrictions, so the new agreement will be widely welcomed. |
| India suspended a peace process with Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Negotiations resumed in February last year. | India suspended a peace process with Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Negotiations resumed in February last year. |