Talks on liberal visa regime: Indian, Pakistani officials meet
By Qudssia Akhlaque
ISLAMABAD, July 26: Pakistan and India on Tuesday began a two-day round of secretary-level talks aimed at promoting ‘friendly exchanges’ in areas of culture, sports and tourism here.
A key talking point was liberalising the visa regime and increasing visits to places of religious interest as well as increasing the number of pilgrims, it is learnt. The need for facilitating visas for the common people was also discussed.
“The two sides seem close to reaching an agreement on group tours and on increasing the number of visits to shrines and pilgrims,” an informed source told this correspondent. This would be reflected in a joint statement to be issued at the end of talks on Wednesday, the source added.
“The talks on the first day went off very well,” a delegate told Dawn afterwards. This is the second round of talks on friendly exchanges being held under the composite dialogue framework. The first round was held in Delhi in August 2004.
Various issues were discussed during the three-hour long talks. These included promotion of art and culture, education, cooperation in science and technology and organizing group tours, the delegate said.
The 1988 bilateral culture agreement also came up for discussion. It is learnt that the head of the Pakistan delegation, Mr Jalil Abbas, federal secretary for culture, tourism and sports, proposed that it be revisited to further improve on it. The objective being to enhance people-to-people contact.
According to diplomatic sources, the seven-member Indian delegation led by Culture Secretary Ms Nina Ranjhan, offered Pakistan training and expertise in hotel management. Also, it proposed that Indian movies be released in Pakistan and shown in the country’s cinema halls. Other proposals included exchange of artistes and painting exhibitions.
At the talks Pakistan also raised the issue of plight of prisoners, sources said. In this context the need to evolve a mechanism to expedite repatriation of prisoners on both sides was emphasised. It was pointed out that the current system of verification of national status was not satisfactory and unnecessarily prolonged the miseries of prisoners.
The fact that it took years to repatriate prisoners even after they had completed their terms called for a review of the whole system, sources said.
High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon and Deputy High Commissioner T. C. A. Raghavan are part of the Indian delegation. The Pakistani delegation comprises senior officials of the ministries of culture and tourism and foreign affairs, including director-general South Asia division, Mr Jalil Abbas Jilani. The talks will resume on Wednesday morning at the culture ministry here.
ISLAMABAD, July 26: Pakistan and India on Tuesday began a two-day round of secretary-level talks aimed at promoting ‘friendly exchanges’ in areas of culture, sports and tourism here.
