Nearly 17 per cent visa applications from Pakistan get rejected: India

The officials said that after the surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) by the Indian Army last September, there was a decline in the number of visa applications. The situation has, however, eased in the past one month and fresh applications have been received, they said.

According to the officials, the factor that led to the highest number of rejections for visa was refusal by sponsors to host a guest from Pakistan. Other factors that lead to delay include agencies which rely on feedback from state agencies in case of applications outside Delhi.

According to the visa policy, a sponsor certificate must be countersigned by a government official in India certifying that they personally know the Indian sponsor. This is also mandatory for Pakistani cultural troupes, artistes and sportspersons.

In his letter, Bambawale has stated that 35,021 nationals from Pakistan applied for visa between January and May 2016, of whom 17,481 were given visas and 17,540 were rejected.

He also sought upgradation of facilities at the overcrowded Wagah-Attari border as it is the only immigration point where India grants visa on arrival to Pakistani nationals. Besides visitor visas, the government offers business visas, pilgrim visas, medical and conference visas, applications for which are received in large numbers.

A stringent scrutiny is undertaken for Pakistani citizens applying for student visa or group tourist visa.