Kashmiris 'Barred' from visiting Pakistan
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

SRINAGAR (Indian held-Kashmir): The Indian government has barred visit of Kashmiris from occupied Kashmir to Pakistan.

Passports issued by Regional Passport Office in Srinagar after August one this year, carry a new line to the effect that: "This passport is valid for all countries except Pakistan".

Observers in Srinagar have taken strong exception to this development, describing it as contrary to the spirit of India, Pakistan composite dialogue, which is aimed at resolving Kashmir issue to the satisfaction of Kashmiris.

It also blurs the ray of hope, radiating from the confidence-building measures, which have already been put in place by the two countries.

2 Kashmiri students not allowed to study in Lahore

Earlier this week, two Kashmiri students were denied permission by the India authorities to study in Lahore.

This can be gauged from the fact that two pass out meritorious students of Institute of Music and Fine Arts (IMFA) in Srinagar were denied permission to visit Pakistan after winning South Asia Foundation (SAF's) Madanjeet Singh Arts Scholarship for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries for the academic year 2004-05.

Reason given to them, "you are Kashmiris and don't represent India". Maria Shafi Bhat and Arshad Hussain Lone both hailing from Sonawar area after receiving the selection letter from Beaconhouse National University Lahore where shocked when they were told by the senior foundation official Professor Jalees Ahmad Khan Tareen that their scholarships have been terminated.

"You hail from Kashmir, which doesn't represent India," Tareen who served as the vice-chancellor of the Kashmir University told students on telephone adding that it was a SAARC scholarship and that Kashmiris don't figure in it.

According to the students, Tareen by saying that contradicted the advertisement issued by the foundation wherein applications had been invited only from the residents of Kashmir valley who have 12 years of education and had studied arts.

According to Arshad, after qualifying the telephonic interview they received selection letters from the university on August 4 stating that they have been selected amongst 14 students from SAARC countries for the art scholarships and would be a part of the foundation year of the bachelors in fine arts programme being offered by the institute.

"We will like to invite you to study at the school of visual arts, at Beaconhouse National University Lahore for a period of 10 months. The semester commences from September 1, the letter signed by dean school of visual arts Professor Salima Hashmi said.

After receiving the selection letter, "we received felicitation calls from the foundation officials," the duo said. According to them, all their hopes were dashed to the ground when they received a communiqué from the foundation saying the SAF-India's sponsorship for BNU could not materliaze for the current year.●