India and Pakistan have operationalised a new visa regime at a meeting between Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and his Pakistani counterpart A. Rahman Malik in New Delhi. According to an official release, the Visa on arrival will come into effect from 15th of next month and the group tourist visa from 15th of March next year.

The new Visa agreement was signed on 8th of September last to facilitate travel for the nationals of both countries and to promote people to people contact. Under the new visa agreement, places of visit have been increased from three to five.

It also provides for issue of Visitor Visa upto two years for persons above the age of 65 years, nationals married to citizens of each other's country and their children below 12 years.

The entry and exit from different designated immigration check-posts can be allowed if indicated in the Visa application. However, exit from Wagha-Attari on foot can not be allowed unless the entry was also for on foot visit.

Official sources said the Indian side raised the issue of Kargil martyr Saurav Kalia's death whose highly mutilated body was returned by Pakistan in 1999 and sought punishment for those responsible for torturing Kalia.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Rehman Mallik said his country wants to work for peace between the two nations and in the entire region. He said, they do not want 9/11 Mumbai bomb blast or Samjhauta Express blast again.

Mr. Mallik said let us forget the dark days. He promissed to bring 26/11 Mumbai terror attack perpatrators to book and said action will be initiated against Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed if concrete evidence is given to Pakistan.