Mukherjee favours free flow of information between India, Pak

NEW DELHI - Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee favouring the free flow of information between India and Pakistan, on Tuesday said that some progress has been made about visa restrictions but still there are hindrances, which can be addressed. “There should be free flow and we should encourage the free flow of information. Naturally, when I am suggesting that there should be a free flow of information, sometimes the visa restrictions, which are applicable even to the journalists, could be eased,” said Mukherjee.

“I think, we took some decisions about the relaxation of visas in the 14th SAARC summit and thereafter some progress has been made in 15th and 16th. But, still there are hindrances, which can be addressed,” he added, while commenting on the relaxation on visa during a discussion at the 10th anniversary of the South Asia Free Media Association.

Meanwhile, speaking at the same forum senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha also favoured relaxation of the visa regime.

Sinha, however, said only dialogue between India and Pakistan can solve the problems.

“When we talk of a dialogue between India and Pakistan, there is absolutely no doubt that only through a dialogue that we can achieve peace and harmony and prosperity for both countries (India and Pakistan),” said Sinha. (ANI)