Indo-Pak series: 'Visas to be issued only after strict verification'

India will issue visas to over 3,000 Pakistani cricket fans, intending to visit India to watch the limited over series, only after 'strict verification'.

"Visa will be issued only after strict verification," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said at the 'Agenda-Aaj Tak' programme organised by TV Today Group.

Twelve Pakistani nationals, who came to India to watch the 2007 Indo-Pak cricket series, went missing and are yet to be traced.

Asked whether it was proper for India to allow the Pakistani cricket team to play here, especially since the neighbouring country has not yet allayed several of India's concerns, Shinde said, sports, culture and entertainment should not be mixed with politics.

"Sports, culture and entertainment must go on. Common people must come. That is good," he said.

The series will comprise three ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals scheduled to be held from December 25, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

The ODI matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi and the Twenty20 games in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

India will issue 3,000 visas to Pakistani fans and an additional 300 visas to VIPs of that country to witness the cricket series.