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NEW DELHI, April 25: Seeking closer ties through a sustained dialogue process and a step-by-step approach to solve outstanding issues, India and Pakistan are likely to sign a ‘liberalised visa agreement’ during secretary-level talks in Islamabad next month, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said on Wednesday.
He was speaking in the Lok Sabha on the April 8 visit by President Asif Ali Zardari to India during which he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over lunch.
“The two leaders felt that priority needed to be given to issues of people-to-people contacts. In this context, they decided that a liberalised visa agreement which has been worked out should be signed during the next meeting of the home/interior secretaries,” Mr Krishna said.
The secretary-level talks, in the pipeline since December, are likely to take place in Islamabad by the end of May. Home ministry sources said Pakistan had been asked to give fresh dates for the talks – sometime after May 22 when the ongoing budget session of parliament would have ended.
The sources said easier travel and visa procedures were aimed at boosting trade ties so that businesspersons from the two countries travelled without hassle to do business.
The proposal also includes non-business visas for divided families, particularly for those aged over 65 years, and for those wanting to attend wedding ceremonies and funerals.
Mr Krishna said Mr Singh and Mr Zardari met for about 40 minutes for “friendly and constructive discussions covering India-Pakistan relations, regional and global issues of common interest”.
“The two leaders noted that there had been steady progress in the bilateral dialogue process which was resumed last year. The dialogue process will continue as planned in the months to come.”
Mr Krishna said the prime minister appreciated the fact that Pakistan had moved forward on trade-related issues.
He said Mr Singh raised the issue of terrorism and the alleged anti-India activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed from Pakistani soil. “It would be evident that our concerns on terrorism had to be addressed if the people of India are to support and sustain progress in bilateral relations.”
Mr Krishna said President Zardari referred to the judicial processes going on against suspects in the Mumbai terrorist attack case and Hafiz Saeed.
Home secretaries, he said, would be discussing the issue further.
The minister said Mr Zardari and Mr Singh felt that the two nations needed to move forward “step by step and find pragmatic solutions” to the bilateral territorial disputes, including Sir Creek, Siachen and Kashmir.—Dawn / Times of India of News Service
