OUR fact what a visit of a senior a citizen from India to her ancestors home in Rawalpindi made news says a lot for level of related difficulties in Pakistani-Indian visa process. maybe in most others countries if a foreigner visited the country of one roots it would be a chore. But not like that in subcontinent.
Rina Varma, who left for another side with her family when she was a teenager, received a warm welcome when she arrived at her ancestral home. house in garrison city. Miss Varma tried for decades to get a visa, and only after the intervention of Facebook group dedicated to Pakistani-Indian friendship and Pakistani minister of state for foreign affairs.
The generation that witnessed the partition period and still remembers of this is fast disappearance. A lot of of those who are left, on both sides of borders, want to catch glimpse of hometown of their ancestors before they leave it world. They are should be relieved on humanitarian considerations on the part of both governments, despite the mutual distrust of the latter. Earlier this year was touching story about how the two brothers, separated at the partition, were reunited through the Kartarpur Corridor.
Read: Indian woman wants to ease the visa regime people on both sides of the border
Together with senior townspeople, many separated families also face tedious visa process for another country. While India is doing allow visa on arrival for those over 65 years old, pensioners need have a big pack of the documents with them in order to be admitted in, including a sponsorship certificate from an Indian citizen. This cumbersome process basically nullifies the concept of visa on arrival. As for separated families applying to visit India, paperwork requirements are equally complex, while even the Pakistanis with foreign passports need undergo a tedious, lengthy procedure.
Pakistan also requires extensive documentation for Indians want to visit this country, and the police say requirements on both sides add unwanted, unfriendly layer of bureaucracy on the way. Possibly toxicity specific to bilateral bonds for in past 75 years maybe reduced several if people can easily move between two countries. Process should definitely be made easier for senior citizens whose home is now abroad of their country of citizenship, and for separated families. Perhaps if travel restrictions are eased, both states will be able to one Replace the day with hatred and mistrust with a more civilized, good neighborly relations.
Published in Dawn, July 24, 2022
