Amid the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan over cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LoC), the neighbouring country has not cleared 12 visa applications, including that of a Naval attaché.
This comes even as visa applications of five Pakistani officials are pending with India.
Meanwhile, sources in Pakistan said that it’s “unfortunate that the Indian side is linking issuance of visas to everything else”. Terming it as regrettable, sources pointed that Pakistan had recently issued several assignment visa to Indian officials but none were issued by India.
“Visa to our diplomats and officials, including air and naval attaches, are stuck with India now for many months,” said sources, accusing India of behaving in “the most uncooperative way”.
Though there has been a spike in India-Pakistan tension in the recent past, the visa war has been on between the two countries for the last two to three months.
Pakistan had denied a visa to a Yoga teacher who wanted to travel for International Yoga day.
Meanwhile, India has warned Pakistan against cross-border firing, saying any ceasefire violation by the country will be dealt with force.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar had said, “It’s not a matter of our choice if India and Pakistan will go for peace talks. It depends on Pakistan’s action. There should be no doubt that any unprovoked firing will be met with force.”
