India hits back at Pak: visa on arrival put on hold, four Pak hockey players sent back

New Delhi, Jan 15: India today put on hold the operationalisation of visa on arrival for senior citizens of Pakistan amid mounting tension on the Line of Control(LoC).Government sources said the decision was taken after several agencies sought clarifications on facilities to be offered to the Pakistani citizens though the continued tension along the LoC following killing of two soldiers by Pakistani troops could be the apparent reason.The visa on arrival facility for Pakistani nationals above 65 years was supposed to start today at the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP) under the new visa agreement between India and Pakistan signed in September 2012 to ease cross-border travel as part of Confidence Buildind Measures(CBM).Some clauses of the relaxed visa regime like multiple-entry and reporting-free visas for businessmen and allowing them to visit five cities instead of the earlier three was operationalised when Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik visited New Delhi on December 14-16, 2012.No new date has been fixed for operationalisation of the visa on arrival facility to the Pakistani senior citizens.“We will take a decision at an appropriate time,” government sources said.The objections raised by some agencies include whether visiting senior citizens were required to have a sponsor in India before granting them visa on arrival. Meanwhile, the Indo-Pak tension at the LoC today spilled over to the sporting arena with Hockey India deciding to send back four Pakistani recruits of HIL franchise Mumbai Magicians after protests over the killing of Indian soldiers on the border.After Shiv Sena protests in Mumbai forced the team to shift training base to Delhi, Hockey India decided to play safe and send the team's Pakistani signings back.“Fearing escalation of tension, the Hockey India's Governing Council has taken the decision to send back the four Pakistani players in the Mumbai team,” a top Hockey India official told PTI.The four players who would be sent back are Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tousiq and Imran Butt and they are expected to take the flight home this evening.The Pakistan Hockey Federation has been informed about the decision and the circumstances under which it was taken.The PHF has expressed understanding of the situation.“The contracts of the four Pakistani players would remain valid and the payments would be made to them although they would not be playing in any of the matches,” the official said.In all, there are nine players contracted to play in the five-team Hockey India League, which got underway yesterday.“We will take a decision about the other Pakistani players depending on how the situation pans out. If we feel that there could be more trouble, we may have to take an appropriate decision,” he said. The league ran into rough weather after the killing of two Indian soldiers by the Pakistan Army on January 8 in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.Mumbai Magicians, based in Mumbai, became the obvious target because of its large number of Pakistani recruits and the presence of right-wing outfit Shiv Sena's stronghold on the city.Over 100 Sena workers had protested against the participation of Pakistani players in the Mumbai franchise and disrupted the scheduled practise session on Sunday. This prompted the team management to shift base to Delhi.On the inaugural day, two supporters from Hindu Yuwak Sabha attempted to invade the turf at the National Stadium, the venue where the opening match between Delhi Waveriders and Punjab Warriors was on yesterday.The Mumbai team is scheduled to play its first match against Delhi in the capital tomorrow. Their first home match in the tournament is scheduled for January 20, against the Punjab team.The other Pakistani players in the league are Mohammed Rizwan Jr, Mohammed Rizwan Sr (Delhi Wave Riders), Kashif Shah (Punjab Warriors), Muhammed Irfan and Shafqat Rasool (Ranchi Rhinos).