More staff needed at our missions, India tells Pak

Following the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament, India had announced 50 per cent reduction in staff strength. This brought the number down to 55 from 110. Subsequently, it went down to 47 after another round of expulsions by both the countries. Today’s proposal seeks to retain the status as it existed immediately after December 13.

The increase in the staff level, South Block officials said, was needed to cater to the increased demand for visas at both ends. There has been a surge in applications for visas following the resumption of the Delhi-Lahore bus service and the interest shown by delegations from various fields in both countries to travel across to increase people-to-people contact.

Pakistan was also informed that its request for the visit by a team from Pakistan Indus Waters Commission to Baglihar project in J-K has been cleared for next month. The Pakistani Commissioner had apparently placed a request for this visit to verify Indian claims that the Baglihar project did not contravene provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Sources said the Pakistan Commissioner had requested for a visit to the project site sometime back. So far, the visit had not be cleared for ‘‘security reasons’’.