Islamabad: A liberalised visa agreement and some cross-LOC
Confidence Building Measures or CBMs for Jammu and Kashmir are expected
to come through when External Affairs Minister SM Krishna holds talks
with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar in Islamabad today.
Official sources have told NDTV that the CBMs will look at increased trade, group tourism, better communication facilities, and multiple entry permits.
The new visa agreement will benefit people of both the countries as it will facilitate multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen, allowing them to visit five cities instead of three as is the case at present.
It will also exempt elderly people from reporting to the police, thus allowing common people from either country to visit three earmarked cities instead of one and introducing a visa-on-arrival facility at Wagah for senior citizens and children. The new pact will act as a great boost to people-to-people contact, a source said.
The new agreement will replace the old visa regime that was signed in 1974.
Speaking to NDTV, on the eve of the talks, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik hailed the proposed visa agreement as a "historic move", adding that the pact would greatly help in cross-border movement.
Mr Malik also said that India shouldn't go on about the slow pace of the 26/11 trial, saying that Pakistan too could say the same about the Samjhauta blasts case.
The 26/11 trial dominated discussions between the foreign secretaries on the eve of the talks on Friday. Foreign Minister SM Krishna also met President Asif Ali Zardari, appealing for mercy for Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh. India got consular access to Sarabjit yesterday. Sources say that President Zardari has promised to look into the case.
(With inputs from PTI)
Official sources have told NDTV that the CBMs will look at increased trade, group tourism, better communication facilities, and multiple entry permits.
The new visa agreement will benefit people of both the countries as it will facilitate multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen, allowing them to visit five cities instead of three as is the case at present.
It will also exempt elderly people from reporting to the police, thus allowing common people from either country to visit three earmarked cities instead of one and introducing a visa-on-arrival facility at Wagah for senior citizens and children. The new pact will act as a great boost to people-to-people contact, a source said.
The new agreement will replace the old visa regime that was signed in 1974.
Speaking to NDTV, on the eve of the talks, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik hailed the proposed visa agreement as a "historic move", adding that the pact would greatly help in cross-border movement.
Mr Malik also said that India shouldn't go on about the slow pace of the 26/11 trial, saying that Pakistan too could say the same about the Samjhauta blasts case.
The 26/11 trial dominated discussions between the foreign secretaries on the eve of the talks on Friday. Foreign Minister SM Krishna also met President Asif Ali Zardari, appealing for mercy for Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh. India got consular access to Sarabjit yesterday. Sources say that President Zardari has promised to look into the case.
(With inputs from PTI)
