India has proposed issuing multiple-entry visa to make cross-LoC (Line of Control) travel easier for the people of Kashmir as a confidence building measure with Pakistan. India has again proposed a bus service from Kargil to Skardu, which Pakistan had earlier rejected.
Though India has given a number of proposals to improve the cross border trade and travel, it has rejected Pakistani demand for release of its driver arrested for alleged smuggling of narcotics in Uri at the India-Pakistan Joint Working Group meeting earlier this week.
For facilitating the movement of people of Jammu and Kashmir, it was suggested that a booklet could be issued with multiple-entry visas. At present, a single-entry visa is given to those people traveling to either side of Kashmir.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said Pakistan raised the issue of release of its driver but India maintained that he has to face law of the land for the criminal act and demanded that Pakistani side should share information of its probe into the matter including the name of the consigner.
The driver from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) was arrested on January 17 in Uri in Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}The driver from Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) was arrested on January 17 in Uri in Kashmir.
{{/usCountry}}The Indian delegation was led by joint secretary in the external affairs ministry R Tandon while the Pakistani side was represented by director general (South Asia) Riffat Masood.
The two sides discussed ways and mechanisms for increasing people-to-people contact.
Talking point
The Indian delegation was led by joint secretary in the external affairs ministry R Tandon while the Pakistani side was represented by director general (South Asia) Riffat Masood.