Visa on arrival scheme with Pak put on hold
22 Jan 2013 5:57 AM IST
The visa on arrival scheme for senior citizens above 65 years at the Wagah border crossing was put on hold as Pakistan was demanding too many documents from Indian applicants, diplomatic sources said on Monday.
The Indian side had put in place simplified procedures for issuing visas on arrival to Pakistani citizens, who were required to produce only a copy of their National Identity Card and a utility bill as proof of residence.
On the other hand, the Pakistani authorities wanted Indian citizens to provide several documents, diplomatic sources said.
Pakistan also insisted that Indian applicants should name a sponsor on the Pakistani side, they said.
With all such arrangements being implemented on a reciprocal basis, Indian authorities decided to put the visa on arrival scheme on hold, the sources said.
‘The procedures will be changed and Pakistani citizens will be required to produce the same documents as the Indian citizens,’ a source said. The visa on arrival scheme was scheduled to start on 15 January at the Attari integrated check post under a new visa agreement signed by India and Pakistan last September to ease cross-border travel.
The scheme was put on hold because of growing tensions between the neighbours over ceasefire violations along the LoC.
The Indian side had put in place simplified procedures for issuing visas on arrival to Pakistani citizens, who were required to produce only a copy of their National Identity Card and a utility bill as proof of residence.
On the other hand, the Pakistani authorities wanted Indian citizens to provide several documents, diplomatic sources said.
Pakistan also insisted that Indian applicants should name a sponsor on the Pakistani side, they said.
With all such arrangements being implemented on a reciprocal basis, Indian authorities decided to put the visa on arrival scheme on hold, the sources said.
‘The procedures will be changed and Pakistani citizens will be required to produce the same documents as the Indian citizens,’ a source said. The visa on arrival scheme was scheduled to start on 15 January at the Attari integrated check post under a new visa agreement signed by India and Pakistan last September to ease cross-border travel.
The scheme was put on hold because of growing tensions between the neighbours over ceasefire violations along the LoC.
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