In the midst of a bitter war of words between India and Pakistan over repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces, the two countries got into another diplomatic face-off on Friday with both accusing each other of holding on to assignment visas of their officials.
India has accused Pakistan of not giving visa to a Navy officer of Captain rank, who is going to be the next naval attaché in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. He is among the 12 officers whose visa requests were frozen by Pakistan over a couple of months. On the other hand, Pakistan accused New Delhi of blocking its officials from entering India by denying them official documents.
The trigger came after Pakistan denied visas to Indian yoga instructors in June and since then a situation was building up between the two sides.
“It is, unfortunately, the Indian side which links issuance of visa to everything else. Pakistan has recently issued several assignment visas to Indian officials but none were issued by India. Visas to our diplomats and officials including air and naval attaches are stuck with India now for months,” Pakistani sources said.
Sources in MEA said the present situation is created by Pakistan and the ball is in their court now to resolve the impasse. Countering Pakistan, Government sources here said there are only five officials who have not been granted visas due to some issues.
They also criticised Pakistani authorities for not issuing visa to an Indian yoga instructor to take part in the International Yoga Day celebrations organised by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
The present row between the two countries comes amidst heightened tension along their border resulting in casualties on both sides following which India warned Pakistan of “effective and forceful” response to unprovoked firing and cross-border terrorism.