India, for the first time, has decided to allow multi-city visas for Pakistani spectators for the upcoming India-Pakistan limited over cricket series beginning December 25. A report in the Deccan Chronicle writes that a total of 3,000 visas will be issued in the general category for the five cities hosting the matches, with Delhi bagging the highest number.
However, any Pakistani who figures on the “blacklist” of intelligence agencies will not be granted visa as the home ministry has put in place multi-layered security checks in view of the threat perceptions associated with the event. The MHA has alerted the security brass that no Pakistani visitor “coming on foot” will be allowed to cross the border — a facility that is available at the Wagah border. “Pakistani visitors can travel by road, train or air,” an official said.
However, coming as a big relief for Pakistani cricket fans, no Indian sponsors will be required to avail the visa facility this time. MHA officials said 1,000 visas will be issued for the match to be played in New Delhi while 500 each visas will be given to Pakistani cricket fans for the matches in Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata. Around 300 visas will separately be issued to VIPs travelling from Pakistan out of which 100 will be given to those keen to watch the match in the capital while 50 visas have been set aside for VIPs travelling to other four cities.
A report in the Times of India says that The number of visas to be issued is based on the match tickets that the BCCI has earmarked for Pakistanis.
No arrivals by crossing the land border on foot - via the Wagah international check post - will be allowed. This is to ensure that no visas are issued without a return journey ticket - by bus, rail or air — that will help the intelligence agencies verify if the Pakistani fans have travelled back home on the date indicated in their tickets.
The emphasis on tracking the Pakistanis traveling to India to watch cricket is understood as 12 Pakistanis who were here to watch the last bilateral series in November-December, 2007, had gone missing and are yet to be traced. In fact, 26/11 investigations had revealed that masterminds Sajid Mir and Abdul Rehman 'Pasha' had entered India to reconnaissance targets on the pretext of watching a cricket match at Mohali.
Three one-day internationals and two T-20 matches are to be played during the Indo-Pak series, the first after bilateral cricket ties were snapped in 2008 in the wake of 26/11 strikes. The security arrangements will be elaborate, as Pakistani VIPs are expected to fly down for some cricket diplomacy. Sources indicated as many as 300 separate visas may be issued for the VIP guests, of which 100 will be for Delhi and 50 each for the other venues.
Though the Indian side had initially proposed making an Indian sponsor for each Pakistani visa applicant mandatory, they agreed to relax the norms after getting a feedback from Islamabad on how this would disadvantage genuine cricket lovers who cannot get an Indian sponsor for their trip.