Kulbhushan Jadhav row: India to cut down visas to Pakistan citizens

India wants to stop issual of visas for cultural exchanges and sport travel among other things, and it can happen as early as next week.

The Kulbhushan Jadhav row is fast becoming a diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan. After putting bilateral talks on hold, India has now decided to cut down on visas issued to Pakistan citizens. Reports suggested that India is likely to stop issual of visas to Pakistan citizens starting next week.

India, reports suggested, wants to stop issual of visas for travel, leisure, cultural exchange including cinema and sports travel to Pakistan citizens. Visas will be issued to those in emergency situations such as medical, healthcare and hospitalisation. The government is currently mulling how to go about visas issued for religious purposes and a decision on the same is likely to be taken in two weeks.

While Indian visas to Pakistan citizens may not see a blanket ban, India hopes to cut down the number of visas to a bare minimum. It may be noted that the bilateral talks on Maritime security and secretary-level talks of the Indus water treaty was called off by India following Pakistan's violation of global norms and awarding death sentence to Kulbhushan Jadhav, a man who the Indian government termed as 'an innocent Indian'.

OneIndia News