Pakistan and India are likely to sign a vital pact on “Liberalized Visa Regime” next month during the Indian Foreign Minister SM Krishna’s visit to Islamabad, expected in the second week of September. The Indian foreign minister and his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar will meet next month to review the ongoing Indo-Pak dialogue process and also set in motion the direction for the next rounds of talks. Under the ongoing peace process, the South Asian nuclear neighbors are discussing Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, Wullar barrage and other conflicting matters with an aim to settle the disputes and normalize bilateral ties. Some media reports suggested recently that Krishna was likely to visit Islamabad on September 7, 8 and 9 but there has been no official announcement yet about the exact dates of Indian foreign minister’s trip.
The diplomatic sources said besides Kashmir and other issues, the two foreign ministers were also likely to take up for discussions another important issue of proposed agreement on “Liberalized Visa regime” between Islamabad and New Delhi. The two sides were expected to sign an accord in May this year in Islamabad during the talks of interior secretaries, but that was called off when Islamabad expressed the desire to go for the signatures and formalization of the agreement at a higher political level. “The talks between the foreign ministers are the suitable highest forum for the agreement on new and liberalized visa regime and Interior Minister Rehman Malik could join Foreign Minister Krishna and Khar at the signing ceremony,” said a source, seeking anonymity. The new visa regime, if implemented, would pave way for the issuing of multiple-entry and police reporting-free visas for businessmen. The businessmen from the two countries will also be allowed to visit five cities instead of three at present, while the elderly people and children would be exempted from police reporting. The source said “group tourist visas” would be issued for the first time to groups of 10-50 individuals. He said the group visit would be arranged by an approved operator or travel agent and the visa would be valid for 30 days and would not be extendable. He said families of individuals married to a national of the other country would be eligible for two-year, multiple entry visas. He said only one person would be able to report to police on behalf of the entire family.
