Chidambaram must come to sign visa deal | Pakistan

Islamabad: There is disappointment for Indians and Pakistanis who were hoping for easier cross-border travel. An agreement on the liberalised visa regime between the two countries was on Friday postponed for a later date as the Home Secretary level talks concluded.

Although both sides have agreed in principle, the modalities of the visa agreement still need to be worked out.

In what is being seen as a snub to India, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Home Minister Chidambaram should come to Pakistan to sign the agreement at a later date to be decided.

Malik also promised to act on the dossier provided by India on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed. He, however, also raised the issue of India's alleged interference in Balochistan province and said that Pakistan would provide evidence to India in this regard.

Upset over the development, Union Home Secretary R K Singh said that while the Indian delegation went to Pakistan with the mindset to sign the visa agreement, it appeared that the neighbout was not ready yet.

The Home Secretary also said that he would convey the wish of Rehman Malik for Chidambaram to visit Pakistan to sign the visa agreement would be conveyed to the Home Minister.

Referring to the alleged Indian interference in Balochistan, he said, "Their complaint of Indian agencies being involved in Balochistan seems to be just a counterstatement. We have told them that no agency is involved there."

Sharma further said that evidence against Hafiz Saeed, collected from David Coleman Headley and Tahawwur Rana, had been given to Pakistan.

Posted in: World