India, Pakistan ink a liberalised visa pact

India on Saturday obliged Pakistan interior minister Rahman Malik by allowing him to put his stamp on the new, much-awaited, liberalised visa agreement. In return, he signed orders to release all Indian fishermen in Pakistani jails, in what he termed as to “show a gesture for external affairs minister S M Krishna’s visit to Pakistan and to his ministry.” Over 270 Indian fishermen are stated to be in Pakistani jails.

The new pact replaces a 38-year-old restrictive visa agreement and will pave the way for time-bound visa approval and greater people-to-people contact and boost trade. Under the new regime, one can visit five places instead of three which is allowed currently. Those above 65 years and below 12 years of age and “eminent” businessmen are exempted from police reporting.

Later, at a joint press conference at the end of four-hour long talks, dominated by Pakistan foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, both sides committed to bury the past and look at the relations afresh with a positive mindset. To repeated queries on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s expected visit to Pakistan, Krishna said there were no “pre-conditions” attached to the visit, but the high-profile visit needs an environment for a “worthwhile outcome”. He, however, qualified his statement later, saying he would share his positive assessment with the Prime Minister.

Krishna said he had never linked the progress on Siachen, Sir Creek or Jammu and Kashmir to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The minister also echoed his Pakistani counterpart in saying, “Let us not look at past and plan for future.” The minister’s tone and tenor at the press conference left everyone wondering whether India has abandoned insistence on Pakistan’s credible and verifiable actions against the planners of 26/11 attackers before discussing substantive progress on political issues.

At a separate press interaction with Indian journalists, Krishna qualified his statement, saying he did not mean that the immediate past should be forgotten, but was referring to the wars that have rocked both countries. “There was no question of bypassing (Mumbai). They have to take a follow up action to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime. India is not going back on that. We will continue to insist action on that,” he said.

The minister also said the issues like Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir also cannot be pushed aside. India was not shying to address them. “But  we have suggested a graduated and a step-by-step approach to create a climate where these issues can be discussed,” he said. He also said India was not afraid of the word Kashmir. “We are willing to talk on the issue, But for that we need right atmosphere. We are willing to approach Pakistan for a dialogue on such an issue,” he said.

A joint statement issued at the end of the talks has also listed a number of confidence building measures (CBMs) to facilitate trade and travel across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir. These include easing travel rules for tourists and pilgrims, and a commitment to facilitate speedy clearance of applications for travel within 45 days and also allow emergency visits on non-crossing days.

Krishna walked into the office of Rahman Malik after holding talks with his counterpart in Foreign Office, to sign the new visa pact, which was supposed to be signed in May during the Home/Interior Secretary-levels talks. But Malik had made it a point to sign it with former home minister P Chidambaram, who refused to oblige him.

Under a new Category II, a visitor visa for a maximum five specified places may be issued for 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.

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. There are two categories for business visa. Businessmen with an income of half a million Pakistan Rupees or equivalent per annum, or an annual turnover/gross sale of 3mn Pakistan Rupees 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 5mn Pakistan Rupees or equivalent per annum, or turnover of 30mn Pakistan Rupees or equivalent, per annum will be given one year multiple entry business visas for up to ten places, with exemption from police reporting.