India raises visa issue with China

The Chinese embassy here has recently issued stamped visas to some Kashmiris on a separate sheet of paper and not on their passports prompting India to lodge a protest.

The visas were stamped on separate papers and not on passports, a practice started recently in the case of those hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing says is a disputed territory.

The action with regard to Kashmiri travellers is seen as an attempt by China to question status of Jammu and Kashmir as part of India. "It is our considered view and position that there should be no discrimination against visa applicants of Indian nationality on the grounds of domicile for ethnicity.

"We have conveyed our well justified concern to the Chinese government in this regard," MEA spokesman Vishnu Prakash said. Official sources said the issue was raised yesterday with the Chinese embassy. Meanwhile, when contacted, the Chinese embassy official dealing with media, expressed ignorance about the issue.