Pakistan wants visa pact inked with eye on next year's general polls
After failing to sign the liberalised visa agreement at last month's home secretary level talks, Pakistan wants to ink the pact during External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's visit to Islamabad in mid-July.
Pakistan reportedly wants a political authority as signatory to the agreement - enabling wider people to people contacts - rather than bureaucrats signing it. It has been learnt that the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is keen to showcase the new visa regime as their achievement ahead of general polls in the country in early 2013.
While for decades the Pakistan army has been shaping India policy, the institution appears to have lost the moral authority after the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, the Mehran base attack and a Nato strike that killed soldiers. The political class wants to take advantage of this to be in the driver's seat, even as the army's influence has not reduced.
Sources in the Pakistani government indicated Islamabad would push for the visa agreement to be signed during Krishna's trip for his annual round of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. This could lay the foundation for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Pakistan in September.
The PPP wants the Indian PM to visit their country six months ahead of general elections in Pakistan. Nothing, though, has been finalised on that trip yet as India would also like to take into account progress into the 26/11 probe.
During Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India in April, Singh and the Pakistani President had agreed on concluding the liberalised visa regime. The two leaders had also agreed on doables such as Sir Creek. Later, the Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called for demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier - the world's highest battlefield. But the Indian Army is not open to the idea.
Islamabad's attempt to link progress in Sir Creek to concessions offered by India in Siachen has already postponed the talks on these two issues. The talks on Siachen will be held on June 11-12 at Islamabad while the talks on Sir Creek will be held in Delhi on June 18-19.
It is now understood that while India was prepared to sign the visa agreement during home secretary R.K. Singh's trip to the neighbouring country, Pakistan dragged its feet as it wanted a political stamp on the pact which promises tourist visas and liberal visas for businessmen.
Read more at: Pakistan wants visa pact inked with eye on next year's general polls : North, News - India Today
Read more at: Pakistan wants visa pact inked with eye on next year's general polls : North, News - India Today
After failing to sign the liberalised visa agreement at last month's home secretary level talks, Pakistan wants to ink the pact during External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna's visit to Islamabad in mid-July.
Pakistan reportedly wants a political authority as signatory to the agreement - enabling wider people to people contacts - rather than bureaucrats signing it. It has been learnt that the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is keen to showcase the new visa regime as their achievement ahead of general polls in the country in early 2013.
While for decades the Pakistan army has been shaping India policy, the institution appears to have lost the moral authority after the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, the Mehran base attack and a Nato strike that killed soldiers. The political class wants to take advantage of this to be in the driver's seat, even as the army's influence has not reduced.
Sources in the Pakistani government indicated Islamabad would push for the visa agreement to be signed during Krishna's trip for his annual round of talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar. This could lay the foundation for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Pakistan in September.
The PPP wants the Indian PM to visit their country six months ahead of general elections in Pakistan. Nothing, though, has been finalised on that trip yet as India would also like to take into account progress into the 26/11 probe.
During Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India in April, Singh and the Pakistani President had agreed on concluding the liberalised visa regime. The two leaders had also agreed on doables such as Sir Creek. Later, the Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani called for demilitarisation of the Siachen glacier - the world's highest battlefield. But the Indian Army is not open to the idea.
Islamabad's attempt to link progress in Sir Creek to concessions offered by India in Siachen has already postponed the talks on these two issues. The talks on Siachen will be held on June 11-12 at Islamabad while the talks on Sir Creek will be held in Delhi on June 18-19.
It is now understood that while India was prepared to sign the visa agreement during home secretary R.K. Singh's trip to the neighbouring country, Pakistan dragged its feet as it wanted a political stamp on the pact which promises tourist visas and liberal visas for businessmen.
Read more at: Pakistan wants visa pact inked with eye on next year's general polls : North, News - India Today
Read more at: Pakistan wants visa pact inked with eye on next year's general polls : North, News - India Today
