The Hindu : Front Page : Free visas for Pakistani journalists

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 08, 2004

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Free visas for Pakistani journalists

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 7. It took an unorthodox setting to produce unusual "results". The Indian and Pakistan Foreign Ministers, Natwar Singh and Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, were subjected to a barrage of complaints about hurdles in the path of journalists crossing borders to perform their duties.

A Pakistani journalist, Imtiaz Alam, who has promoted a group called the South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA), was in his elements — lambasting the Indian and Pakistani establishments for keeping a tight control on the media.

While both Mr. Singh and Mr. Kasuri had previously "agreed" not to say anything in public to a large gathering of journalists and a sprinkling of politicians, Mr. Singh, in response to the long litany of complaints, announced that "free visas" would be issued to Pakistani journalists by India.

As Mr. Alam was speaking, the National Security Adviser, J.N. Dixit, who was also present, whispered something to Mr. Singh. As soon as Mr. Alam finished, Mr. Singh made the announcement of "free visas".

"Mr. Dixit and I will persuade the Home Minister [Shivraj Patil] to go along with us," Mr. Singh said, indicating that the matter would also be placed before the Cabinet Committee on Security.

"There should be no problem in allowing Pakistani journalists to move freely," he said and asked Mr. Alam, "Aap kahan jana chahte hain?" (Where do you want to go?)

Mr. Kasuri now chipped in. But he was a little more circumspect — pointing out that there had been a Cabinet reshuffle in Pakistan and he did not even know who his Minister of State was.

"I do make a promise. I will try my best to act in sync with India. So please go at full speed [with your proposal]," he said.

Mr. Kasuri said he was the one who had taken up the case of SAFMA to be linked with the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) — in fact, he was regarded as an anti-establishment figure in Pakistan.

Now even the couple of resident Indian and Pakistani journalists in Islamabad and New Delhi have only a three -city, three-entry visa.

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