ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced it had liberalised visa rules for Indians, saying that as part of improving confidence building measures between the two neighbours, it wanted more visits by Indian tourists and businessmen.

The relaxation is part of a new visa policy that Pakistan has introduced for all countries. Interior Minster Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Tourism Minister Nilofer Bakhtiar said it was aimed at globally promoting Pakistan as an attractive destination for tourism, trade and investment.

Announcing the new rules for Indians, which include a multiple entry visa for businessmen, Mr. Sherpao said there had been several suggestions from India on visas, and "we are in agreement with many of them."

Under the new policy, which has been introduced with immediate effect, Indian group tourists travelling with designated tour operators will get 30-day visas instead of the previous 14-day visas.

Indian pilgrims will get 15-day visas to visit the specified shrine instead of the earlier five-day visas. Despite its restrictive trade with India, Pakistan has also introduced a new "business visa" category, under which Indians wishing to travel here for business purposes can get a six-month multiple entry visa with a maximum stay of 30 days each time.

Indian visitors of all categories previously got only 30-day visas.

Under the new rules, some categories, namely "civil society persons, senior citizens, widows and divorcees," would get visas for up to two years.

Ms. Bakhtiar said, "If the two countries open up to each other's tourists, we will not need any tourists from any other parts of the world."

Mr. Sherpao clarified the new visa rules for Indians did not signify any "shift" in Pakistan's position on the Kashmir issue.

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