20 February 2009
Srinagar - Indian government opened the Srinagar International Airport on 14th of this month with much fanfare trumpeting it as a concession to landlocked Kashmiris who desperately were seeking a direct access route to outside world for decades. Air India Express, India's budget carrier, began operating weekly flights to Dubai direct from the Srinagar airport, upgraded to the international level, this week with an introductory fare of Rs 1478 to and fro.
With the onset of spring and beginning of tourist season the airline has promised to increase the frequency of flights.
However for locals taking a dream trip directly from Srinagar is not easy.
They have to first travel to New Delhi, 1000 km away, to get visa and then return to Srinagar for boarding their Dubai flight.
"Its not only cumbersome but stupid", said Nazir Bakhshi, head of Shiraz Travels, a leading travel agency here.
Now Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to make arrangements in Srinagar city to process the visa applications for the people of Kashmir.
In a communication to Mr. Mohammad Sultan Al-Owais, Ambassador of UAE in New Delhi, the Chief Minister has referred to the inconvenience faced by the passengers travelling from Srinagar to Dubai as they have to get their visa clearance done from Embassy of UAE in New Delhi and then come back to Srinagar for boarding their flights for Dubai.
He urged the Ambassador to put in place arrangements in Srinagar city itself to process the visa applications of the intending passengers from Kashmir to Dubai.
"It would be appreciated if arrangements are made in Srinagar city to process the visa applications for the people of J&K State who intend to fly to Dubai from Srinagar", the Chief Minister wrote to Mr. Al-Owais, adding that this would be a big relief to the people of the State.
He said that he would be looking forward for immediate positive response from the UAE Embassy.
Kashmir has no diplomatic presence and creating a formal diplomatic presence in a disputed territory is tricky business.
Attempts in past by foreign missions to open consulate sections on either side of the divide were opposed by New Delhi and Islamabad as both claim Kashmir in full but control in parts.
When the British government decided to appoint an honorary consul in Mirpur, in Pakistani controlled part of Kashmir, for the purpose of tackling the problem of forced marriages among its vast Kashmiri community India registered a formal protest with the British Foreign Office.
Srinagar - Indian government opened the Srinagar International Airport on 14th of this month with much fanfare trumpeting it as a concession to landlocked Kashmiris who desperately were seeking a direct access route to outside world for decades. Air India Express, India's budget carrier, began operating weekly flights to Dubai direct from the Srinagar airport, upgraded to the international level, this week with an introductory fare of Rs 1478 to and fro.
With the onset of spring and beginning of tourist season the airline has promised to increase the frequency of flights.
However for locals taking a dream trip directly from Srinagar is not easy.
They have to first travel to New Delhi, 1000 km away, to get visa and then return to Srinagar for boarding their Dubai flight.
"Its not only cumbersome but stupid", said Nazir Bakhshi, head of Shiraz Travels, a leading travel agency here.
Now Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has urged the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to make arrangements in Srinagar city to process the visa applications for the people of Kashmir.
In a communication to Mr. Mohammad Sultan Al-Owais, Ambassador of UAE in New Delhi, the Chief Minister has referred to the inconvenience faced by the passengers travelling from Srinagar to Dubai as they have to get their visa clearance done from Embassy of UAE in New Delhi and then come back to Srinagar for boarding their flights for Dubai.
He urged the Ambassador to put in place arrangements in Srinagar city itself to process the visa applications of the intending passengers from Kashmir to Dubai.
"It would be appreciated if arrangements are made in Srinagar city to process the visa applications for the people of J&K State who intend to fly to Dubai from Srinagar", the Chief Minister wrote to Mr. Al-Owais, adding that this would be a big relief to the people of the State.
He said that he would be looking forward for immediate positive response from the UAE Embassy.
Kashmir has no diplomatic presence and creating a formal diplomatic presence in a disputed territory is tricky business.
Attempts in past by foreign missions to open consulate sections on either side of the divide were opposed by New Delhi and Islamabad as both claim Kashmir in full but control in parts.
When the British government decided to appoint an honorary consul in Mirpur, in Pakistani controlled part of Kashmir, for the purpose of tackling the problem of forced marriages among its vast Kashmiri community India registered a formal protest with the British Foreign Office.
© IRNA 2009
