New Delhi: In a strong and powerful political message to Pakistan, India on Tuesday said it was giving a visa to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) resident Osama Ali — who desperately needs a liver transplant-on the grounds that PoK is an integral part of India.
India had earlier announced two months ago that all Pakistani nationals requiring a medical visa for treatment in India have to furnish a “recommendation letter” from the Pakistan PM’s foreign policy advisor Sartaj Aziz “in order to ascertain that these are genuine requests”. But New Delhi has waived this rule now for those hailing from PoK on the grounds that such a letter is not required in their case since PoK is part of India which has been illegally occupied by Pakistan.
On Tuesday morning, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted, “PoK is an integral part of India. Pakistan has illegally occupied it. We are giving him visa. No letter required.”
According to media reports, Islamabad had refused to give any recommendation letter from Mr Aziz for Mr Ali’s treatment.
Mr Ali, 24, who has reportedly been diagnosed with a tumour in the liver, wants to travel to New Delhi for treatment and has already been accepted as a patient by a private hospital in Saket in New Delhi. A few days ago, Ms Swaraj had lambasted Mr Aziz, saying “Mr Aziz has not shown the courtesy even to acknowledge my letter” on the request for granting a visa to Avantika Jadhav, mother of jailed Indian national in Pakistan, Kulbhushan Jadhav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan on charges of espionage and sabotage. Ms Sushma had tweeted recently, “I have my sympathies for all Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa to India. I am sure Mr Aziz also has consideration for the nationals of his country. I see no reason why he should hesitate to give recommendation for nationals of his country.”
