Pakistanis visiting India will be able to freely use their mobile telephones to stay connected with their country, and the rest of the world, if a Commerce Ministry proposal to the Home Ministry is accepted.

Commerce Secretary Rajiv Kher has written to Anil Goswami, his counterpart in the Home Ministry, making a case for permitting the use of Pakistani SIM cards in India.

According to a Commerce Ministry official, such a move would help foster better trade ties and bridge the trust deficit between the two countries without posing an additional security threat.

“Connectivity through the Internet and applications such as WhatsApp already allow people between the two countries to communicate seamlessly. Restricting telecom connectivity does not make any sense,” the official said. The Ministry has already discussed the matter with the Telecom Ministry. “The Telecom Ministry is willing to go ahead with the proposal provided the Home Ministry is on board,” the official said.

Visitors from across the border, especially the business community, have often complained about the inconvenience of not being able to use their mobile connections in India.

This is the second communication sent by the Commerce Ministry on the matter. The first was sent when the UPA was in power.

Goodwill gesture

Following their meeting in May, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had agreed to work towards greater cooperation in an atmosphere “free of confrontation’’. The trade liberalisation process, which has resulted in both sides removing a number of barriers over the past two years, is also set to be re-started when the two Trade Ministers meet in Bhutan later this month on the sidelines of the SAFTA ministerial.

The Commerce Ministry feels that not allowing telecom connectivity is an unnecessary bother for bonafide visitors who visit the country for furthering business ties, meeting friends and relatives or any other legitimate purpose.

“When you can allow Pakistani nationals to enter the country by giving them valid visas after vetting their credentials, there is no logic behind not allowing them to use their international SIMs,” the official said.

Pakistan also does not allow Indian SIMs to be used in the country, but it could change once India gives permission.

“We are not going to lose anything even if we allow it unilaterally. We are sure Pakistan is going to respond positively once we take the initiative,” the official said.

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