For the upcoming India-Pakistan one day series, New Delhi has decided to issue just 3,000 visas to Pakistani fans, says a report in The Hindu.
“Sources in the Home Ministry said there was no indication so far from Pakistan of any VVIP coming to watch the matches: three One-Day Internationals in New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata and two Twenty20 matches in Bangalore and Ahmedabad,” says the report.
“It has been decided to take extra precaution while issuing visas, and all due diligence… will be done. It will be ensured that no Pakistani visitor goes missing as it happened in the past… 12 Pakistanis who came to India to watch the last India-Pakistan cricket series in 2007 failed to return [home], and are yet to be traced,” a senior official of the Ministry said.
Meanwhile, The Times of India reports 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, said sources. 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,” says the report.
The report also adds, “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.”