SRINAGAR, Sept 8: Kashmir’s mainstream or pro-India leadership has welcomed the signing of a pact by India and Pakistan to liberalise their visa regime to promote greater trade, travel and people-to-people contacts between the two south-Asian countries, rivals for decades.
The pact was signed by foreign ministers of India and Pakistan as external affairs minister S.M. Krishna is on a three-day visit to the neigbouring country to review the recent round of talks between the two nations.
Ruling National Conference working president and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said such steps “will go a long way in regaining trust and giving impetus to people -to-people contact”.
“This is a significant move, such steps would facilitate and contribute positively in all measures aimed at bringing thaw in the ties between the two neighbors and resolving issues amicably and in peaceful atmosphere” a party spokesperson quoted Abdullah as saying.
Abdullah said the smooth relations between the two countries, who have witnessed decades of animosity over issues such as Kashmir, Siachen glacier and Sir Creek boundary line, will have good effect on the Himalayan state.
“So we must welcome the dialogue process between the countries,” said the 42-year-old chief minister of the region, which has witnessed more than two decades of violence after an armed rebellion broke out in the early nineties.
Meanwhile CPI(M) State Secreatary M Y Tarigami, Agriculature Mnister Gulam Hassan Mir and Democratic Freedom Party President Hakeem Yaseen have also welcomed the agreement. They said such steps will go a long way in normalizing relations between the two neighbours.
THE AGREEMENT
The agreement, which was struck after months of negotiations, will ease trade and travel between the two countries.
Senior citizens, aged 65 and above, in India and Pakistan can now walk across the border between the two countries and need not go through the hassles of getting a visa from embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad.
Senior citizens will be granted visas on arrival at the Attari and Wagah border in Pakistan and India.
Under the new arrangement, senior citizens will be granted a visa on arrival valid for 45 days.
