Indo-Pak talks on promotion of friendly exchanges on Tuesday

Islamabad: Issues like easing visa restrictions to host cultural events and promote frequent interaction between artists of the two countries are expected to figure in talks between India and Pakistan here on Tuesday.

A delegation of Indian officials headed by Secretary Culture, Neena Ranjan, would arrive here on Monday for talks with their Pakistani counterparts on Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in different fields, which is one of the eight topics listed under the composite dialogue process.

Indian officials here say that ever since the peace process began last year, Indian High Commission in Islamabad has increased the visa facilities by leaps and bounds. Currently about 10,000 visas were being issued, which included medical as well as business categories.

A number of Pakistani film personalities, musicians and artists were being issued visas to tour India. Currently around 100 Pakistani film artists and technicians were in Mumbai either taking part in shooting of movies, working out tie ups for joint productions or scouting for chances to act in Bollywood.

A number of Indian film stars had also visited Pakistan, including Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif. Local officials in Lahore reportedly refused permission to Saif to perform. On the music front, Pakistan issued visas to Wasifuddin Dagar to perform but his show was cancelled in Karachi by the local authorise. Another Indian artist, Shubha Mudgal, was denied visa despite the Indian High Commission announcing the schedule of her performance here.