34 Pakistani cricket fans missing after crossing into India by AFP

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Event:

Pakistan in India 2004/05

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DateLine: 15th March 2005

 

At least 34 Pakistani cricket fans are missing after crossing the border to watch their national team play on Indian soil for the first time in six years, officials said.

 

Immigration department officials Tuesday said the 34 belonged to a group of 2,754 Pakistanis who were granted visas to enter Indian territory through the solitary land transit route of Wagah to watch the first five-day Test which began March 5 in nearby Mohali.

 

They said 2,720 lovers of the game returned to Pakistan before the expiry of their visa Monday and added that the remaining 34 were being given a 24-hour grace period to show up at Wagah in the northern state of Punjab by Tuesday midnight.

 

Despite demands for a relaxed visa regime, travel between the two estranged South Asian neighbours is heavily regulated and citizens of one country can visit only those cities stipulated on visas issued by the host country.

 

Pakistan are slated to play two more Tests and six one-day internationals on their first tour of India since 1999, with thousands more fans expected to cross the border to support their team.

 

India has also invited Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to watch one of the matches but dates for the general's arrival have not yet being fixed.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)