Passengers complain of delay in visa by Pakistan for cross border travel

Passengers, who intend to go to Pakistan, have been compelled to prolong their stay, as the process of granting visit permit clearances from the Chakan-da-Bagh border post in Kashmir continues to be delayed.

A fresh batch of 32 Indians had crossed over Line of Control (LoC) towards Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to see their blood relations.

This batch has been allowed to enter PoK after a gap of four months as Pakistan authorities cleared the list of 32 Indians to cross over the disputed border via Poonch- Rawalakot bus service. While Poonch is in Kashmir, Rawalkot is in PoK.

Poonch resident Mohammad Fazal was one of the 32 passengers asked to wait.
"I have been applying for my visa for the last six months. I had applied two years back also and finally I have got it now. People who come from there have to face no such problem, however many people may come," said Fazal.

Khan, who is aged over 75, said that for people of his age, visas should be given faster so that they can meet their relatives.

"I request the Pakistan Government that whoever is going from here should get their visas early. People of my age sometimes have to wait for three years before they can get the visa. We are deprived of meeting our relatives from the other side," said Khan.

Custodian of cross LoC travel and trade Mohammad Bashir Lone said that people coming from PoK was 50 percent more than the Indian side.

"If you see the latest data on cross LoC travel, you would notice that more than 9,500 people have come from Pakistanto India while only 4,500 have gone from here. There is a difference of more than 50 percent. It is clear that those coming from Pakistan do not have to face any problem fromIndia," said Lone.