Is A Visa Required For Pakistanis To Visit Kashmir?

A valid entry visa is required for travel to Pakistan, as it is not issued at the entry point and can be locked-up and deported. A valid passport is required for applying for a visa, which should be valid for at least six months beyond the scheduled departure date from India. Pakistani citizens are not permitted to visit Kashmir, which is part of the Indian state Jammu and Kashmir (J and K).

A visitor visa is issued to a Pakistani national for meeting relatives or friends or for other legitimate purposes, valid for a maximum of five specified places and for a period not exceeding 36 hours. Visa processing for Pakistan/Pakistan origin nationals can take anywhere from 15 to 90 days depending on the requirements of prior clearance and time taken. OCIs will now need a special permit for several activities, including mountaineering, and to visit certain areas of the country that are categorised as “protected”.

With stability within Pakistan and the surge of violence against Muslims in India, the revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy by the Modi government in 2024 has made it difficult for Pakistani citizens to visit Kashmir. However, if they have a Pakistani visa, they can freely visit all places and parts of Kashmir in Pakistan.

As of July 2024, Pakistani citizens had visa-free, visa-on-arrival, and eVisa access to 33 countries and territories. Tourist visas are required, but polio vaccination within one year before travel may be required to exit Pakistan. Pakistani nationals are not eligible for tourist visas and should apply for a Visitor Visa, generally valid for three months.

Prohibited areas for Indian nationals in Pakistan include Azad, Kashmir, Baluchistan, Cantonments / Prohibited Areas, and Northern Areas.

Is it safe to go to Kashmir Pakistan?

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued a travel advisory against visiting areas within 10 miles of the Line of Control in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Sindh Province, including the city of Nawabshah. This advisory has been issued due to concerns over security and safety.

Do foreigners need a permit for Kashmir?

A permit is required for foreign nationals to enter or remain in the protected area situated between the “inner line” and the international border.

Are foreigners allowed in Kashmir?

It is a requirement for foreign nationals to obtain a permit to enter or remain in specific areas within the Protected Area situated between the “Inner-Line” and the International Border in Azad Kashmir. These areas include Dheerkot, Rawalakot, Chotta Gala, Chikkar, Daokhan, Muzaffarabad, Mangia, and Sehnsa.

What do Pakistanis call Kashmir?

The Kashmir region, a significant center of Hinduism and Buddhism, was ruled by various Hindu dynasties during the 7th-14th centuries. In 1320, Rinchan Shah became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir, inaugurating the Kashmir Sultanate. The region was part of the Mughal Empire from 1586 to 1751 and then the Afghan Durrani Empire until 1820.

In 1819, the Kashmir Valley passed from the control of the Durrani Empire to the conquering armies of the Sikhs under Ranjit Singh of the Punjab. This marked the end of four centuries of Muslim rule under the Mughals and Afghan regime. Kashmiris initially welcomed the new Sikh rulers, but the Sikh governors were considered oppressive due to their remoteness from the Sikh Empire’s capital in Lahore.

The Sikhs enacted anti-Muslim laws, including death sentences for cow slaughter, closing down the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, and banning the public Muslim call to prayer, adhan. Kashmir began to attract European visitors, who wrote about the poverty of the vast Muslim peasantry and the exorbitant taxes under the Sikhs. High taxes depopulated large tracts of the countryside, allowing only one-sixteenth of the cultivable land to be cultivated.

However, after a famine in 1832, the Sikhs reduced the land tax to half the produce of the land and began offering interest-free loans to farmers. As a result, Kashmir became the second highest revenue earner for the Sikh Empire, and Kashmir shawls became known worldwide, attracting many buyers, especially in the West.

Can a Pakistani go to Jammu?

Pakistani citizens are not allowed to visit Kashmir, a region in India’s Jammu and Kashmir state. Many Pakistanis visit Kashmir, often with relatives or a large diaspora of Kashmiris in Pakistan. Visa applications for Pakistanis are subject to extra scrutiny, even for those of Pakistani origin with European or US passports. The visa application process requires information about where the parents were born, which can be a challenge for those born in Pakistan.

Visas can be obtained quickly with an invitation from a relative or influential person in Kashmir, but as a tourist, it can take up to six months. The reverse process for Kashmiri visitors to Pakistan is relatively easy and quick. However, both Pakistani and Kashmiri visitors must register with the local police as a “foreigner” for their own protection. The process can take up to six months, with rejection or no response possible.

Are tourists allowed in Kashmir now?

Kashmir, once a Muslim majority state, has seen a significant increase in tourism since the Indian government revoked its status in 2019. This downgradation to two Union Territories ruled directly from Delhi sparked widespread protests from Kashmiris, who were harshly repressed with massive militarisation, curfews, arrests, and surveillance. However, the Indian authorities now seem to believe all is calm and life is good for Kashmiris as they bring “development” to the region by opening it up and investing millions in infrastructure.

Traditionally, tourism has been an important part of the region’s economy, representing around 7 of GDP. After a dip in 2019/20, tourism is on the rise again, with visitor numbers rising from around 18 million in 2022 to 20 million in 2023, mostly from other Indian states. The number of foreign visitors has also risen by 700, from 4, 028 in 2022 to 30, 647 in 2023. Many Indian tourists are pilgrims, visiting ancient sites associated with Hindu mythology and elaborate new Hindu temples being constructed at key sites to reinforce the dominance of the BJP Hindutva philosophy.

At the G20 meeting held in Kashmir, plans were announced to further promote tourism and attract more film makers. However, the capacity of the Kashmir valley is becoming over-stretched, risking environmental damage and social problems. Kashmiris must quietly accept the inevitable changes to their land, as there is a culture of fear under the surface. The apparent peace is enforced through continued militarisation, with Indian soldiers prominent on the streets and punishment for those who speak out.

Do you need visa for Kashmir?

Ski India is a popular destination for international travelers, but there are important documents needed for a smooth trip. Most foreigners entering India, Kashmir, and Gulmarg must have a valid national passport and a valid Indian Visa or e-Visa. The Indian Mission can issue an Indian Visa, while an e-Visa can be obtained online. The government issues visas for various categories, including tourist, student, business, and employment.

To obtain an e-Visa for India, Kashmir, and Gulmarg, visit indianvisaonline. gov. in/evisa/tvoa. html, complete the form, pay online, receive the e-Visa via email, and enjoy the untouched powder at Gulmarg Ski Resort.

Which country visa is free for Pakistan?

Pakistan has entered into bilateral agreements with a number of countries, including Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, and Cyprus, which provide for the abolition or exemption of visas for their respective citizens. The aforementioned agreements permit Pakistan to temporarily prohibit or exempt specific individuals from visa requirements, thereby enabling them to remain in their respective countries of origin.

Is Kashmir free from Pakistan?

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a self-governing state in Pakistan, but since the 1949 ceasefire between Indian and Pakistani forces, Pakistan has exercised control over the state without incorporating it into Pakistan. The state has its own elected president, prime minister, legislative assembly, high court, and official flag. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council handles budget and tax affairs, with its chairman being the prime minister of Pakistan.

Azad Kashmir Day is celebrated on October 24, the day the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government was created in 1947. Pakistan has celebrated Kashmir Solidarity Day on February 5 each year since 1990 as a day of protest against India’s de facto sovereignty over its State of Jammu and Kashmir. Kashmir Accession Day is observed as Black Day on October 27 each year since 1947.

Despite tight controls on basic freedoms, the residents of Azad Kashmir generally accept whatever Pakistan has done to them, which has little variation from how most Pakistanis have been treated by Pakistan. Scholar Christopher Snedden has observed that the people of Azad Kashmir have always wanted to be part of Pakistan, despite the tight controls imposed by Pakistani authorities.

Can Pakistani go to India on a tourist visa?

It is recommended that Pakistani nationals apply for a visitor visa in lieu of a tourist visa, the latter of which is valid for a period of three months and necessitates the visitation of specific locations.

Does India allow Pakistani tourists?

It is recommended that Pakistani nationals apply for a visitor visa in lieu of a tourist visa, the latter of which is valid for a period of three months and necessitates the visitation of specific locations.