KARACHI: Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Monday said that visas would be issued to Pakistani patients on the recommendation of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.
Last week, the Indian embassy rejected the visa application of Faiza Tanveer, citing deteriorating ties between the two countries.
Ms Tanveer was due to receive treatment at the Inderprastha Dental College and Hospital (IDCH) in Ghaziabad for a recurrent ameloblastoma, a cancerous oral tumour which is aggressive in nature.
After Ms Tanveer was denied visa, she appealed to politicians in both countries to help facilitate her application.
“I have my sympathies for all Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa for their treatment in India,” Ms Swaraj said in a series of tweets.
“I am sure Mr Sartaj Aziz also has consideration for the nationals of his country,” she said, adding that “I see no reason why should he hesitate to give his recommendation for nationals of his own country”.
The Indian minister then steered the direction of the matter to the visa application of Avantika Jadhav, the mother of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, which she said was pending in Pakistan.
“We also have a visa application pending for an Indian national. Ms Avantika Jadhav, who wants to meet her son in Pakistan,” she said.
Ms Swaraj claimed that Mr Aziz had not “acknowledged” a personal letter she wrote to him, asking for approval of Ms Avantika’s visa application so that she may travel to meet her son. Kulbhushan Jadhav was sentenced to death by a military tribunal in Pakistan for espionage and terrorism earlier this year.
“But I assure Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa with a recommendation from Mr Sartaj Aziz, we will issue the visa immediately,” Ms Swaraj concluded.
Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2017
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