India tightens medical visa procedures for Pakistanis amid tensions over Kulbhushan Jadhav death sentence
Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice late stayed the hanging of Jadhav. Pakistani military court had given death sentence to Jadhav on charges of spying.
- May 11, 2017,
- Updated May 11, 2017 5:12 PM IST
As the ties between Indian and Pakistan goes from bad to worse over the issue of death sentence given to retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, authorities in New Delhi are tightening visa procedures for Pakistanis who visit India for medical treatment.
India's External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said Pakistani nationals applying for a medical visa would have to get a letter of recommendation from Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz.
MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay denied that India had stopped giving medical visas to Pakistani citizens, but said that with a recommendation letter from Aziz, the visa application would be cleared "immediately".
"We have suggested that their Foreign Minister or Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaz Aziz give a recommendation letter and it will be cleared immediately, without any delay," the PTI quoted him as saying.
He added that a recommendation letter would enable to ascertain that the requests received from Pakistan are genuine. He also referred to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj herself receiving these requests on social media and on emails.
It is difficult to ascertain authenticity of such requests, he added.
He also asserted that "in previous years, thousands of medical visas have been issued to Pakistani citizens to come to India and benefit from the health facilities here."
India's decision to impose the condition on medical visas for Pakistani nationals comes in the backdrop of growing tension in Indo-Pak ties due to the retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav episode and the recent beheading of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan army regulars.
Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice late stayed the hanging of Jadhav. Pakistani military court had given death sentence to Jadhav on charges of spying.
India had approached the Hague-based ICJ against the death sentence. India also accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention and said if he was hanged it would be considered "premeditated murder".
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As the ties between Indian and Pakistan goes from bad to worse over the issue of death sentence given to retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav, authorities in New Delhi are tightening visa procedures for Pakistanis who visit India for medical treatment.
India's External Affairs Ministry on Wednesday said Pakistani nationals applying for a medical visa would have to get a letter of recommendation from Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz.
MEA Spokesperson Gopal Baglay denied that India had stopped giving medical visas to Pakistani citizens, but said that with a recommendation letter from Aziz, the visa application would be cleared "immediately".
"We have suggested that their Foreign Minister or Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaz Aziz give a recommendation letter and it will be cleared immediately, without any delay," the PTI quoted him as saying.
He added that a recommendation letter would enable to ascertain that the requests received from Pakistan are genuine. He also referred to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj herself receiving these requests on social media and on emails.
It is difficult to ascertain authenticity of such requests, he added.
He also asserted that "in previous years, thousands of medical visas have been issued to Pakistani citizens to come to India and benefit from the health facilities here."
India's decision to impose the condition on medical visas for Pakistani nationals comes in the backdrop of growing tension in Indo-Pak ties due to the retired Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav episode and the recent beheading of two Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan army regulars.
Earlier this week, the International Court of Justice late stayed the hanging of Jadhav. Pakistani military court had given death sentence to Jadhav on charges of spying.
India had approached the Hague-based ICJ against the death sentence. India also accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention and said if he was hanged it would be considered "premeditated murder".
Also Watch: