8/3/2019 The Mutual Mistrust That Has Long Marked Relations Between Islamabad and New Delhi Has Had Severe Consequ…

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THE mutual mistrust that has long marked relations between Islamabad and New Delhi has

had severe consequences for citizens wishing to visit their kin on the other side of the

border. After the Mumbai attacks, the exercise of getting a visa, especially for Pakistanis, has

become a virtual nightmare. The whole process of obtaining visas smacks of an intent to

discourage people from applying. However, that may change. It appears that the Joint

Working Group of Pakistan and India finalised a new draft visa agreement in New Delhi on

Friday. The draft will now be submitted to both governments so that it can be signed “at an

early date”. Reportedly, businessmen and senior citizens would be given multiple entry visas

while people in general may be allowed to visit up to five cities instead of the current three.

Any liberalisation of the visa regime between the two countries is welcome. And perhaps the most

concrete move in this direction would be reopening the Indian consulate in Karachi and the Pakistani

consulate in Mumbai. Both were shut down in the mid-1990s. In fact, this would constitute a major 

confidence-building move in the overall effort to normalise relations. Most Pakistanis wishing to

travel to India hail from Karachi and other parts of urban Sindh, hence reopening the Indian

consulate would be a much-needed convenience. If reopening the consulates is not feasible,perhaps visa-processing centres can be set up to facilitate the applicants. There is also a need to

reduce the visa-processing time. Background security checks are understandable, but the current

visa regime leaves applicants in limbo, waiting for months on end for their passports to be stamped.

The tedious requirement of police reporting and a limit on the number of cities travellers can visit

must also be replaced by more liberal rules. Tourism visas could also be granted to allow people

without family links to visit each other`s country — fortunately, group tourist visas are reportedly

being considered. At present, people belonging to divided families are suffering the most. Unless the

visa regime is made more flexible, there may come a time when family links will be permanently

severed. It is within the power of the two governments to prevent this and remove political blockadesto ease visa restrictions. It has been noted that diplomats need to have more of a say in visa policy

than the interior/home ministries and the security establishments of the two countries. Leaders on

both sides have expressed their wish for normal relations; easing visa restrictions and letting people

travel freely will be the most practical demonstration of this desire.