KARACHI, April 20: Indian High Commissioner Shivshankar Menon has said that India is waiting for Pakistan's response to its offer of setting up a visa camp office in Karachi.

He recalled that the proposal was sent to the government of Pakistan in early February. Answering questions after delivering a speech on "India's foreign policy" at a function organized by the Karachi Council of Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law on Tuesday, he said that the Indian government had taken steps to help businessmen travelling to India by opening a separate window for them at the high commission and providing them the facility of delivery of visa applications by couriers.

"We guarantee to issue visas to businessmen within 21 days - even earlier if their visa applications are backed by recommendations from the chambers of commerce and industries. Besides, we could explore other methods to make visa acquisition easier," he said.

The envoy said that the possibility of the issuance of tourism visas would be discussed in June and July at meetings between foreign secretaries and foreign ministers of India and Pakistan. Answering a question, he said India had already offered to give Pakistan the status of a "most favoured nation" so that trade between the two countries could be promoted.

He pointed out that bus, train and air links were already in place, and hoped that they would extend to new routes like Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Khokhrapar-Munabao routes, and to Karachi-Mumbai ferry service.

He underlined the need for continuing the ongoing phase of improved relations between India and Pakistan, adding that there was a great deal of expectation about the establishment of links across the border.

He observed that peace with Pakistan was part of Indian vision. "India has a certain vision for the region, the world and ourselves. It is this vision of South Asian countries at peace with themselves and among themselves, building prosperity together, that I hope India and Pakistan can work together."

Shedding light on Indian foreign policy, he said "We recognize and encourage pluralism in the international community. It is not by accident that India, along with China, was co-initiator of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Within India, there has consistently been national consensus on an independent foreign policy, or non-alignment, as a practice that guarantees India autonomy of decision-making and the strategic space necessary to judge issues on the basis of how they affect us.

We have consistently stayed free of entangling alliances or external military commitments, and have sought a peaceful environment to meet the rising socio-economic aspirations of our people," he said. Chairman of the council, Justice Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui, presented welcome address, while Mr Najmuddin Shaikh offered vote of thanks.