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India begins visa-on-arrival deal for Pakistani seniors India puts visa deal with Pakistani on hold
(35 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 has put on hold a plan to issue visas to Pakistani senior citizens on arrival, amid fresh tension between the two countries.
Citizens aged over 65 will be issued visas at the Wagah crossing. Home Secretary RK Singh told the BBC that the policy, due to come into effect on Tuesday, had been put on hold for technical reasons.
Latest Indian media reports suggest the move may have been put on hold, but this has not been officially confirmed. There was no immediate indication of when the practice might be introduced.
The move is part of a bid to improve ties between Islamabad and Delhi, after they were badly damaged by the Mumbai attacks in 2008. Violence in Kashmir has plunged India and Pakistan into the worst crisis since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
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 the disputed region.
Two Indian and two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the last week in clashes near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir. The visa policy, decided in September, was part of a bid to improve ties between Islamabad and Delhi.
The violence has plunged the neighbours into the worst crisis in relations since the Mumbai attacks. Under the deal, citizens aged over 65 were to be issued 45-day, single-entry visas so they could visit friends and relatives.
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. The visas would only be available at the Wagah land border crossing near Lahore, and would be issued every day between 10:00 IST (04:30 GMT) and 16:00 IST (11:30 GMT).
Foot crossing Pakistani senior citizens would be allowed to visit a maximum of five places in India, but not Indian-administered Kashmir, Punjab, Kerala and "other prohibited areas", an Indian statement said.
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. Only two visas could be obtained each year and the Wagah crossing would have to be made on foot.
The visas will only be available at the Wagah land border crossing near Lahore. They will be issued every day between 10:00 IST (04:30 GMT) and 16:00 IST (11:30 GMT). The visitors would reportedly be exempted from reporting to the police, which is mandatory for most Pakistani travellers in India.
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. Correspondents say Indians and Pakistanis find it extremely difficult to travel to each other's countries because of tough visa restrictions, so the easing of travel restrictions would have been be widely welcomed.
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.
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.