ISLAMABAD: More than a year after India made draft proposals for liberalisation of the visa regime with Pakistan, Islamabad has sent in its own suggestions to New Delhi, raising the possibility that the three-decade-old system that governs travel between the two countries may be soon be revised.

According to sources, Pakistan's suggestions reflect the Indian proposals for issuing group tourism visas, multiple entry business visas and increasing the number of cities that a person can visit in the other country, but differ substantially in the details. Pakistan is not in favour of the Indian proposal for giving senior citizens and children under 12 years visas on arrival.

At their last talks in New Delhi in November 2006, the Foreign Secretaries agreed on the need "for early finalisation" of an updated visa agreement. With Pakistan's suggestions in, the matter may soon be discussed further.

The Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday that a new agreement on visas is to be signed during External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Pakistan on January 13. But Indian officials here said that as New Delhi had received the proposals from Pakistan only a few days ago, it was unlikely that a new agreement would be finalised so soon.

Neither country is contemplating changes that can loosen the visa regime from the grip of its security underpinnings. For instance, neither side has talked about doing away with the system of "police reporting" under which visitors to the other country, unless specifically exempted, must report to the nearest police station on arrival and before departure. No change is contemplated to the requirement that visitors must enter and exit from the same port.

The existing visa agreement dates back to 1974, under which the two Governments agreed to issue "visitor" visas for purposes of meeting relatives and friends in the other country, or for business. A protocol was signed the same year to permit group visits by pilgrims to shrines in both countries. Tourist visas are not issued by either side.

After the peace process began in 2004 and with its emphasis on "people-to-people" contacts, the Indian High Commission here found itself issuing visas far in excess and outside the scope of the 1974 agreement. New Delhi made a push for a revision of the agreement in October 2005 during Natwar Singh's visit here when he was External Affairs Minister.

The Indian High Commission says it issues an average of 8,000 visas every month.

The Dawn reported that an agreement on visas was among four pacts likely during Mr. Mukherjee's first official visit to Pakistan. He and his Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Kasuri, will initial an already finalised pact on reducing the risk of nuclear accidents, quarterly flag meetings and the quick repatriation of prisoners, according to the newspaper.

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