India makes unilateral travel concessions for Pakistanis

India has offered unilateral travel concessions to Pakistani visitors as a measure to create goodwill between the countries.

Making a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, March 20, External Affairs Minister I K Gujral said in keeping with the policy to promote people-to-people relations, India has decided to permit Pakistani tourists to visit India in groups.

Describing, the decision as a major unilateral step in the right direction, he said the government has also decided to ease travel by Pakistani businessmen to India.

They will now be eligible to one year multi-entry visa. If travelling by air, they can exit and enter through Bombay or Delhi.

Gujral said Pakistani nationals were permitted to visit India on the basis of visitors visas. Meant essentially for meeting close relations.

The minister's statement, however, evoked widespread protests from Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena members who wanted clarifications with regard to the status of the 1971 war prisoners and continuous firing across the borders.

A few members complained that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence's activities in India would increase as a result of easy movement of Pakistani visitors in the country.

As the members continued to protest, Deputy Speaker Suraj Bhan adjourned the house for 15 minutes at 12.25 pm IST.

The minister said Pakistan had announced its decision to release 38 Indian children, who have been under detention in that country since 1994.

''We appreciate this gesture,'' Gujral said and reminded that Indo-Pak official talks would be held next week.

Gujral said these children were travelling on Indian fishing vessels which were apprehended by Pakistani authorities over two years ago. ''We have made many representations on their behalf and I had raised the issue with Foreign Minister Sahabzada Yakub Khan when I met him on December 18, 1996, in Delhi.''

It is a matter of satisfaction that Pakistan has now responded positively and steps have already been initiated by us to ensure that children are brought from Pakistan to India at the earliest.

The ministers convey deep gratitude to Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, who has taken good care of them for over a year and a half while they were lodged in the Edhi Centre in Karachi.

Gujral said that apart from relaxing visa rules, India has also decided to exempt senior Pakistani citizens, artistes, poets, writers, students and journalists from visa fees.

Besides, this expansion of cultural contacts between two countries will also be encouraging through exchange of cultural groups and artistes, he said.

The minister said that young and elderly Pakistani visitors would be exempted from police reporting.

India will unilaterally permit import of books and periodicals in keeping with general policies, the minister said.

Gujral said the measures are designed to add to the goodwill between the peoples of the two countries and improve relations of friendship and cooperation with the neighbour.

UNI