India to issue 10,000 visas to Pakistani fans

Waiting for a visa, perhaps? © Getty Images

The Indian government plans to issue 10,000 visas to Pakistani fans who wish to travel with their team during Pakistan's tour of India. According to a Reuters report, there will be special camps set up in Pakistan to facilitate the process.

An unnamed Indian official was quoted as saying: "We are expecting a huge demand for visas and plan to have special visa camps in Pakistan to issue up to 10,000 visas. We might even allow Pakistanis to obtain special permits and drive in their cars into India to watch the match in Mohali." Mohali is a three-hour drive from Wagah, the border crossing in Punjab.

During India's tour of Pakistan last year, the Pakistan government had issued more than 8000 visas, and the Indians fans were treated warmly throughout the series. Whether a similar amount of goodwill is generated during this tour remains to be seen, but the Indian government is certainly doing all it can to enable it.