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KARACHI: Pakistani fans who are hoping to go to India for the upcoming series between the two arch-rivals will need local sponsors to get the visa to cross over to the border.
“There will be no relaxation of visa rules for the cricket fans. We cannot compromise our security as it is our prime concern. So, whoever seeks a visa, has to name a local sponsor,” a Home Ministry official was quoted as saying by PTI.
There is no set number of visas which will be issued to Pakistanis for the series but all applicants must show proof that they are going to watch the series which will be played between December 25 and January 6 and whoever is eligible will be issued a visa.
The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan’s tour of India in 2007, after cricket ties were snapped following the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Twelve Pakistanis disappeared in India during the series in 2007 and the reason behind their disappearance still has to be determined.
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Comments (23) Closed
Nov 13, 2012 06:15am
Is it just an incident that twelve Pakistanis disappeared in India during the series in 2007 and Mumbai paid the ultimate price in 2008?
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Nov 12, 2012 10:51pm
Local sponsor?? India is not Dubai or London that has a huge Pakistani diaspora living there. Any other dim witted ideas?
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Nov 13, 2012 02:39am
Sensible thing to do - not to open the floodgates.
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Nov 13, 2012 11:41am
Now India going strict rules for Pakistan and Bangladesh people bcoz of Security concern ..any how some of fans from pakis will miss the matches..
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Nov 12, 2012 10:14pm
good move to check cross border infiltration.
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Nov 14, 2012 07:42am
BCCI will never allow it to happen.
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Nov 13, 2012 03:29am
It is sad that not many Pakistanis will be able to come up with a sponsorship from the Indian side.What if the Pakistani government can give an undertaking for the fans who want to come over?
I think that should be acceptable to the Indian side.
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Nov 14, 2012 06:45am
So India should lay a red carpet after all the terrorist attacks and infiltration from pak?ur are brainwashed hence cannot think straight...grow up
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Nov 13, 2012 01:05pm
Indians are wonderful, friendly people. But sometimes they pull cheap stunts like these that makes you understand why Jinnah made Pakistan. Imagine what nonsense that principled man had to go through in India. Indian Government should have just refused this series instead of accepting it and then trashing it with this ridiculous visa requirement.
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Nov 13, 2012 01:08pm
ha ha ha..!! Bas kar pagle rulayega kya... :D
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Nov 13, 2012 01:12pm
Bro pls dont be so rude to Pakistanis I am an Indian too, but I dot think u have ever met any Pakistani. Please try to mix wit ppl frm our western neighboring country, I guess then ur such anger against Pakistanis will reduce. We can't blame whole nation and its ppl for acts of some radical ppl who r minority. I hav mixed with Pakistanis as I lived abroad for a while, I can tell u one thing tat tey r same as us very good ppl with big heart.
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Nov 13, 2012 02:19pm
Stop it! There's nothing wrong with friendship - as unlikely as it might seem.
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Nov 13, 2012 05:29am
I don't understand why the hell in the world Pakistanis are so desperate to go to India....
Why there is a need to talk about visa relaxing thing. Why Pakistani get out of 'India jana hy thing'....to get humiliated and what not.....Pakistanis should learn to get respected....
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Nov 14, 2012 07:38am
Rightly said.
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Nov 13, 2012 12:29am
Leave India alone, majority of Indians donot want anything with pakistan, why can't you understand this simple fact?? you are not welcomed in India! go away! how can you even think of any relation when all you want is to harm India. Stop begging for friendship
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Nov 13, 2012 03:07am
And why should they relax, only Pakistan suppose to give all the concessions even though if Pakistan suffers losses.
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Nov 13, 2012 09:01am
Internal security is important then cricket.
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Nov 12, 2012 08:21pm
right move
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Nov 12, 2012 06:14pm
Sure after 26/11, security first and cricket second for India. Glad that it is a short trip to avoid to much hassle for both teams. Just wondering how a trip to India will change the security and internal situation in Pakistan?
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Nov 12, 2012 07:13pm
Haaahaaahaa..I knew there was a catch...
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Nov 12, 2012 07:06pm
Indian should play in Dubai if they can't issue the visa for Cricket fans..........
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Nov 12, 2012 06:50pm
There is no question of relaxing the visa rules, be it for a Pakistani national, be it for anybody! The country's interest and security comes first!
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Nov 12, 2012 05:01pm
if this is the behaviour of indian govt, pakistan should cancel the cricket tour.
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