Pakistan likely to issue visas to Indian pilgrims

The Pakistan Government is considering the issue of giving visas to Indian pilgrims to visit four of their holy sites.

Islamabad, Oct 30 : The Pakistan Government is considering the issue of giving visas to Indian pilgrims to visit four of their holy sites.

A meeting presided by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao was held in this regard on Monday.

Sources said that a formal proposal in this regard would be made to India in the next round of talks between the Interior Secretaries of the two countries. They said that the decision's implementation was subject to India's reciprocity.

The meeting had rejected the idea of treating pilgrims as tourists under the current visa policy, sources said.

Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq was unaware of the move, and said that the issue was under discussion at diplomatic levels.

He said that currently Indian pilgrims were treated under the Protocol on Visit to Religious Sites, 1974, according to which Indian citizens are given visas to visit their holy sites on certain occasions.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, Additional Secretary Imtiaz Kazi, Joint Secretary Waqar Zaib, and Aizaz Chaudhry also attended the meeting, the Daily Times reported.

ANI