Nawaz Sharif and Zardari wants free borders with India.
– No visas for Indians
Pakistan’s new democratic government is all for abolishing visas and creation of “free borders” with India, the country’s former prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said.
Sharif told India Today Editor Prabhu Chawla on Seedhi Baat that he has made this suggestion to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Asif Zardari, and he too “favours” the move.
Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP are running a coalition government following the February elections.
Sharif said India and Pakistan need to work closely to resolve the Kashmir dispute. “We want a solution that is acceptable to the Indians, Pakistanis as well as the Kashmiris,” he said.
Sharif ruled out any patch-up with President Pervez Musharraf. "Pakistan is now a democracy and we are not going to accept Musharraf under any circumstances because he was not elected (to the post). He went to the extent of making changes in the constitution and changing judges, he said. “We will amend the constitution soon to give more rights to parliament.”
Would that stop the blame game? If someone takes advantage of the situation and does mischief in India, who will get blamed first? If someone does mischief in Pakistan, wouldn't that open the doors to blame India?
It already goes on as it is. This would basically just make it 'legal'.
I don't think there should be totally open border. There should be a check system in place to know who enters/exits from either side.
What should be done is to put aside antimosity and let people travel back and forth with proper paperwork, a way to know where a person intends to visit during the stay, etc.
These fools should use their mind for a change. The only thing they need to do is to construct a ten-meter high concrete wall to stop the illegal immigration of Biharis and Bengalis. Karachi has already gone down the pan- do they want to lose the whole Pakistan now?
^This is called logical thinking my dear'islamic friend'. Free borders invites rampant illegal immigration that would further change the demography of eastern Provinces, esp of Sindh. Go on with this plan, but only if you want to have more ethnic tension in Sindh.
^This is called logical thinking my dear'islamic friend'. Free borders invites rampant illegal immigration that would further change the demography of eastern Provinces, esp of Sindh. Go on with this plan, but only if you want to have more ethnic tension in Sindh.
true.. most of Pakistan's revenue comes from Punjab's crops and milk products. Karachi would have been much better had it been under the control of Islamic forces.
These fools should use their mind for a change. The only thing they need to do is to construct a ten-meter high concrete wall to stop the illegal immigration of Biharis **and **Bengalis. Karachi has already gone down the pan- do they want to lose the whole Pakistan now?
In a way you are right, same thing has happened on the western border, illegal immigrants as well as pathan/pashtun terrorists have sneaked in from Afghanistan, I say mine the damn whole border.
BTW, do you know MQM doesn't comprise of Biharis and Bengalis? Thought I'd let you know. The most of "illegal Bihari/Bengalis" are generally not involved in any terrorism, petty crimes may be.
India and Pakistan have to try something different. Past efforts haven't worked because of the deep distrust. Politicians are unable to put forth any new idea because of fear of backlash at home. Given that, if zardari and sharieff really came up with this, it is laudable.
But India should carefully consider this and not dismiss it as grandstanding. India's only concern I think is security - what measures are required to ensure that jihadi nuts don't cross the border and cause mayhem.
If Pakistan government can demonstrate sincerity by dismantling all terrorist camps, extradite criminals like dawood ibrahim and put in place security along the border to check and prevent jihadi crossings; India should respond in kind.
The only thing they need to do is to construct a ten-meter high concrete wall to stop the illegal immigration
good idea, wrong border.
need to keep the drug peddlers and terrorists from afghanisan out.
Tensions with india need to be diffused, better commercial and cultural ties would be of help. fighting for half a century has not done anyone any good, with the exception of politicians, mullahs/pundits and military.
Throughout history migration's direction remained from Northwest to Southeast with the exception of 1947-55! With India becoming a world super power within this century, this will again take its normal flow!
Are Afghan sneaking into Pakistan to create havoc through terrorism here-or it has always been the other way round? And even if some Afghan immigrants are involved in crimes they should be deported on the spot.
We are not talking about here MQM, you’re 30 hours too late.
I didn’t say Bihari or Bengali immigrants are involved in terrorism. I said Sindh is already mired in ethnic violence and tension and more immigration will only make the bad situation worse. Sinhis are even against the opening of Khokrapar border, let alon the free border with India.