Visas of two Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) officials have not been renewed by India for nearly a month, an act termed as "unfair" by Pakistan, which said it would impair people-to-people contact between the two countries.
PIA's Saeed Ahmed Khan and Shabbir Ahmed, who are station managers for the airlines in Delhi and Mumbai respectively, applied on December 21, 2015 for the renewal of their visas valid till January 7, 2016, according to Pakistani sources.
"Despite their applying well in time for the renewal, the Indian authorities have not renewed the entry documents. This is creating big problems for the duo in discharging their professional duty apart from facing personal difficulties," the sources said.
When contacted, Indian officials said,"matter is under consideration of relevant authorities."
PIA, the national carrier of Pakistan, is the only airline that provides direct air link between the two countries. It operates three flights from Delhi and two from Mumbai every week.
It is understood that Pakistan has taken up the issue with the External Affairs Ministry and conveyed that delay in renewal of their visas will not help in improvement of bilateral relations especially when the two countries have decided to re-engage.
Swarup also said there is no contradiction between what
was said by the Home Minister in Parliament today and what is the general understanding of SAARC practices on the live coverage of SAARC meetings.
He also asserted that there was "full coordination" between Home Ministry and the Ministry of External Affairs on Rajnath's Islamabad visit.
Asked about incidents of beating of Indian prisoner Hamid Nehal Ansari in Peshawar jail, the Spokesperson said, there has been a petition filed in a court there.
Apart from seeking consular access to him, the government has also approached Pakistan asking it to allow Ansari to speak to his family.
According to Ansari's lawyer, the 31-year-old Indian prisoner, sentenced by a military court for possessing a fake Pakistani identity card, was attacked at least thrice by inmates in recent months in a Peshawar jail.
