India will give multiple entry visas, valid upto 3 years, to Pakistani businessmen with assured credentials and sound financial standing, says a PTI report.
Informing the Lok Sabha about this new development, the minister for state (home), Kiren Rijiju, said that instructions in this regard were issued on July 7, this year.
Rijiju also added that the business visa can be issued upto 5 years to businessmen from SAARC countries except Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan. Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals don’t require visa to enter India.
Ass for Pakistani nationals, they are entitled to a maximum of 1 year multiple entry visa with the restrictions to visit 10 places.
Commentators feel that this development may be a prelude to an improved relationship between the two neighbours. More recently, both India and Pakistan released fishermen languishing in each other’s jail.
The official high-level talks between the two countries are currently stalled in the wake of continuing ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the LoC.