In a surprise move, Pakistan on Friday backed away from signing a new visa agreement with India, one that was widely expected to ease travel between the two countries and serve as a big confidence-building measure.
The joint statement, issued after the conclusion of home/interior secretary-level talks in Islamabad, said both sides agreed to sign the visa agreement "at an early date" as "some internal approvals" were still needed, while Pakistan's interior minister Rehman Malik stressed the need to sign such a "very big agreement" at the political level.
However, Pakistan's reluctance to ink the deal for simplification of visa procedures intrigued New Delhi, sparking suspicion whether the delay was meant to coax India into making concessions on Siachen. Its decision to postpone the visa agreement comes weeks after Pakistan put off scheduled bilateral talks on Sir Creek.
The visa talks will now be held in the third week of June, after the Siachen talks of June 11-12. While Pakistan has made it clear that Siachen is on top of its agenda, India is unlikely to relent. The Pakistani army has been pressing for a mutual withdrawal of troops from the Saltoro Ridge which India has refused.
Pak didn't have army nod for visa deal?
Pakistan army has suddenly started pressing for a mutual withdrawal of troops from the Saltoro Ridge. India has refused to withdraw its troops until Pakistan agrees to authenticate the respective troop positions where India occupies the dominating heights.
India, however, sought to play down the surprise postponement of the visa talks by Pakistan. When questioned, foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai told newspersons in Delhi that the Indian team had gone "fully prepared" to sign the agreement. Mathai, who attributed the postponement to a "delay in procedure" in Pakistan, said the visa agreement would have been signed in accordance with the decision taken during the visit of Pakistani President Asif Zardari.
"We also have reports that the Pakistani side referred to some delay in its procedure and the Pakistan interior minister's (Rehman Malik) desire for political participation in signing of the visa pact," he said. "Both sides had attached a lot of importance on signing the visa agreement," he added.
It is felt that Pakistan army, the controlling authority on ties with India, has not given the civilian government in Islamabad the all-clear for the visa agreement. It is also estimated that Pakistan feels that it has given a lot with the MFN decision, and that now it was India's turn to reciprocate, and therefore postponement of the deal.
The visa agreement, which was supposed to be signed on Friday, is meant for giving one year multiple-entry, non-police reporting visas for 'certified' businessmen and allow them to visit five cities instead of three as at present.
Siachen card? Pak puts off visa agreement - The Times of India
MMS has lost his mind. Budda satiya gaya hai.
