India cautious on Pak's visa on arrival plan

India reacted cautiously to Pak's plan to give visa on arrival to tourists of 24 countries, including Indians.

India on Thursday reacted cautiously to Pakistan's plan to give visa on arrival to tourists of 24 countries, including Indians.

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"India had given a set of proposals to Pakistan for liberalising visa regime. We are awaiting the details," external affairs ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told reporters.

We have always supported liberalisation of visa regime. Pakistan has, however, yet to notify the decision, he added.

Sarna was responding to a question on Pakistan's Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar's reported proposal to grant visas on arrival to Indians. Bakhtiar announced visa on arrival (VOA) scheme after receiving Pakistani passengers from New Delhi at the Wagah land border on Wednesday.

The VOA scheme, which would be implemented in two months, is aimed at making Pakistan a tourist-friendly destination, she said. The VOA period has also been extended from five to 15 days while the visit visa would now be of one month duration instead of 15 days, she had said.

India decided last year that it would grant visa on arrival at the Wagah border to Pakistani citizens above 65 years and children under 12 years of age. This facility is the first of its kind that New Delhi has with any country.

The CBM was implemented in March last year and special counters were set up for this purpose at the Wagah check post.