Centre set to allow Pakistan journalists to visit Valley

After India-Pakistan bonhomie over Geeta, India is set to allow Pakistani journalists to visit Jammu and Kashmir as part of an exchange programme. A group of Pakistani journalists have sought permission from the government which is all set to be granted after a thorough security verification. The move is being seen as a gesture from both countries to allow interaction of its people even as hostilities continue on the border.

“We believe in transparency and have nothing to hide. If Pakistan media wants to visit Kashmir, we will allow them. Their visit will give them a chance to understand India’s position better,” a top government official said.

Top government sources disclosed that the Union home ministry is processing their request and the intelligence agencies will complete their formalities before the visit can take place. “The people to people contact between India and Pakistan is high on the agenda of the Modi government. The visit is a golden chance for the private run media to independentally understand the problems and view points on both sides,” a top official said, adding that such visits will help in countering propaganda by vested interests.

The move comes as a reciprocal gesture after a 12 member delegation of journalists from Kashmir went on a week-long visit to Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

During their visit to Islamabad, Lahore and Muzaffarabad, the journalists attended a two day conference with the journalists from the other side of Kashmir in which discussions were held to build more cross-LoC linkages in the media. The clearance from the government is expected to come in two months.