09-28-2006, 06:59 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Â <b>Pakistan's gambit </b>
The Pioneer Edit Desk
<b>Easy visa, easier travel for jihadis </b>
On the face of it, there can be nothing objectionable about Pakistan relaxing its visa regime for tourists from India and 23 other countries. After all, many countries have adopted the 'visa on arrival' scheme to promote tourism: Travellers, especially those visiting foreign shores on vacation, are loath to stand in queue for visa and deal with unfriendly bureaucrats who take great delight in harassing applicants in the guise of implementing rules and regulations. The 'visa on arrival' scheme, therefore, has worked to the advantage of countries that have adopted it - apart from attracting a larger number of tourists, it has also helped countries promote a friendly image. But, and for this Pakistan has only itself to blame, when Islamabad offers a similar relaxation in its visa regime, there is every reason for hackles to be raised in New Delhi. This is primarily because of two reasons. First, past experience suggests that the proposed scheme will prove to be hugely beneficial for criminals and terrorists fleeing law-enforcing agencies in India. Till now, those on the run and seeking refuge in Pakistan would travel to their destination via a third country, usually the United Arab Emirates, offering visa on arrival. For example, Dawood Ibrahim and his cohorts chose this route to their present hideouts in Pakistan. But with the UAE increasingly discouraging criminals and terrorists from using Dubai or Abu Dhabi as transit points and willing to extradite wanted men to India, the journey to Pakistan has of late become cumbersome. If Islamabad does implement its proposed 'visa on arrival' scheme, then criminals and assorted jihadis will have to simply hop on to the first PIA flight out of India, or any other flight scheduled to land at a Pakistani airport.
The second reason why we should not be enthused by Pakistan's offer to ease its visa regime is because Islamabad will sooner than later demand reciprocal measures by New Delhi. Given the alarming alacrity with which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concedes to Gen Pervez Musharraf's demands for concessions, we can be sure that a similar facility will be offered to 'tourists' landing in India from Pakistan. While it makes little sense to cavil at the present visa regime, which offers visa on arrival to Pakistanis above 65 years and below 12 years at Wagah and Attari and is a humanitarian gesture of goodwill, there is every reason to oppose any move to expand the scope of this facility to include all Pakistanis and other ports of entry. If the UPA Government were to do that, it would be tantamount to opening our doors and welcoming jihadis. The Government is welcome to pretend otherwise, but that shall not diminish the danger posed by what is clearly a conspiracy to make travel easier for India's enemies. The initial response of the Ministry of External Affairs - "We welcome all proposals for liberalising the visa regime between our two countries" - will no doubt gladden hearts that beat for Pakistan. For those who are worried about the rapid downing of defences in keeping with the Prime Minister's disastrous "out-of-the-box thinking", Pakistan's opening gambit has come as an ominous sign of further concession to Gen Musharraf. Before that happens, hopefully the Opposition will at least make an effort to block it.
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The Pioneer Edit Desk
<b>Easy visa, easier travel for jihadis </b>
On the face of it, there can be nothing objectionable about Pakistan relaxing its visa regime for tourists from India and 23 other countries. After all, many countries have adopted the 'visa on arrival' scheme to promote tourism: Travellers, especially those visiting foreign shores on vacation, are loath to stand in queue for visa and deal with unfriendly bureaucrats who take great delight in harassing applicants in the guise of implementing rules and regulations. The 'visa on arrival' scheme, therefore, has worked to the advantage of countries that have adopted it - apart from attracting a larger number of tourists, it has also helped countries promote a friendly image. But, and for this Pakistan has only itself to blame, when Islamabad offers a similar relaxation in its visa regime, there is every reason for hackles to be raised in New Delhi. This is primarily because of two reasons. First, past experience suggests that the proposed scheme will prove to be hugely beneficial for criminals and terrorists fleeing law-enforcing agencies in India. Till now, those on the run and seeking refuge in Pakistan would travel to their destination via a third country, usually the United Arab Emirates, offering visa on arrival. For example, Dawood Ibrahim and his cohorts chose this route to their present hideouts in Pakistan. But with the UAE increasingly discouraging criminals and terrorists from using Dubai or Abu Dhabi as transit points and willing to extradite wanted men to India, the journey to Pakistan has of late become cumbersome. If Islamabad does implement its proposed 'visa on arrival' scheme, then criminals and assorted jihadis will have to simply hop on to the first PIA flight out of India, or any other flight scheduled to land at a Pakistani airport.
The second reason why we should not be enthused by Pakistan's offer to ease its visa regime is because Islamabad will sooner than later demand reciprocal measures by New Delhi. Given the alarming alacrity with which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concedes to Gen Pervez Musharraf's demands for concessions, we can be sure that a similar facility will be offered to 'tourists' landing in India from Pakistan. While it makes little sense to cavil at the present visa regime, which offers visa on arrival to Pakistanis above 65 years and below 12 years at Wagah and Attari and is a humanitarian gesture of goodwill, there is every reason to oppose any move to expand the scope of this facility to include all Pakistanis and other ports of entry. If the UPA Government were to do that, it would be tantamount to opening our doors and welcoming jihadis. The Government is welcome to pretend otherwise, but that shall not diminish the danger posed by what is clearly a conspiracy to make travel easier for India's enemies. The initial response of the Ministry of External Affairs - "We welcome all proposals for liberalising the visa regime between our two countries" - will no doubt gladden hearts that beat for Pakistan. For those who are worried about the rapid downing of defences in keeping with the Prime Minister's disastrous "out-of-the-box thinking", Pakistan's opening gambit has come as an ominous sign of further concession to Gen Musharraf. Before that happens, hopefully the Opposition will at least make an effort to block it.
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