Syllabus:

GS2: India and its neighborhood- relations.

Context: 

India has cancelled all previously issued visas for Pakistani Nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas.

More on the News

• The suspension of visa services with immediate effect was taken following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir
• Any Pakistani national currently in India under SVES visa has been given 48 hours to leave India.

SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme

• The scheme was launched in 1992, following a decision taken during the 4th SAARC Summit held at Islamabad in 1988.
• Under the scheme, it was agreed that certain categories of dignitaries from SAARC countries would be granted a Special Travel Document, exempting them from visa requirements within the region.
• Currently, the list includes 24 categories of entitled persons, which include Dignitaries, Judges of higher courts, Parliamentarians, Senior Officials, Businessmen, Journalists, Sportspersons etc.
• Each member state issues visa stickers to eligible individuals from their country which typically has a validity of one year.
• Immigration authorities of SAARC member states conduct regular reviews of the scheme's implementation.
• The SAARC visa stickers was to ensure that their travel is not limited to any specific cities and would save them from the hassles like police reporting and filling of extra forms on entry in any of the eight SAARC countries.

About South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC):

• It was established as a regional intergovernmental organization with the signing of the SAARC Charter in Dhaka on December 8, 1985.
• SAARC includes 8 members: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka
• SAARC Observer States (10): Australia, China, the European Union, Iran, Japan, Mauritius, Myanmar, South Korea, and the United States
• It comprises of 3% of the world's area, 21% of the world's population and 3.8% of the global economy.
• It launched the South Asian Free Trade Area in 2006.

MAINS PRACTISE QUESTION:

Q. How do recent developments, such as India's suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, reflect the challenges to regional cooperation within SAARC?

PYQ: “Increasing cross-border terrorist attacks in India and growing interference in the internal affairs of several member-states by Pakistan are not conducive for the future of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).” Explain with suitable examples. (2016)