India Block Pakistan-Born Usman Khawaja’s Visa [Now Granted - See Post #160]

[PerfectionPersonified]

SYDNEY - Pakistan-born Australian batsman Usman Khawaja on Tuesday said he was being refused a visa into India for next month's Champions League Twenty20 tournament because of his country of birth.
Khawaja vented his anger on social media site Twitter, saying India's visa department "need to sort their issues out".
"Refusing to let me travel to India as an Australian, because I wasn't born here. Wow," wrote the 24-year-old.
In an exchange with his Portuguese-born New South Wales team-mate Moises Henriques, Khawaja said it "wasn't that I wasn't born here but where I was, brother".
Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed that Khawaja's visa had been held up by officials at the Indian High Commission (embassy) but said they were confident of resolving the issue before the tournament.
"There has been a stoppage in the system at the Indian High Commission in Australia with Usman's application," CA spokesman Philip Pope told AFP.
"Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia are seeking to understand the detail behind the stoppage with our colleagues at the Indian High Commission."
Pope said the cricketing body had a long-standing relationship with the Indian mission and "we generally find that we resolve our issues mutually, so we'll work through this once we've understood the detail".
"I can't give you a timeline of when it will be resolved, but I'm confident given our history and our relationship that we will resolve this as soon as possible," he said.
Khawaja, the first Muslim to wear the baggy green for Australia and also a qualified pilot, is on the 20-man long list for the NSW Twenty20 side, of which 15 will ultimately be sent.
The promising young left-hander made his Test debut for Australia in the fifth match of the Ashes series in Sydney in January, signing with Derbyshire later that month for the English domestic season.


http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011...khawajas-visa/

[PerfectionPersonified]

How come our umpire can get visa?

[LethalSami]

indian gov't needs a chitrool big time.....................

[Itachi]

There must be some other issues involved excluding the nationality issue (if other pak people gets visa, why he can't?)

[PerfectionPersonified]

Yet we are talking about Love and Friendship ...India dont even like a person which is remotely associated with Pakistan

[Down2Earth]

disgraceful is a word that I can use without getting banned.

[PerfectionPersonified]

Originally Posted by Itachi There must be some other issues involved.

bother to elaborate?

[James]

Any of our Indian users want to defend this latest stunt?

[PerfectionPersonified]

that's why everyone is supporting England instead of India---

[PerfectionPersonified]

Poor guy must be thinking he should have born in Bangladesh!

[LethalSami]

Originally Posted by Whippy Any of our Indian users want to defend this latest stunt?

ur being racist!!! :JonathanLiew

how can compare stupidity done by indian gov't to all of Indians

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Whippy Any of our Indian users want to defend this latest stunt?

Already started, read post 4 above...without having anything to go off except what Khawaja said, he is still insisting it must be something else!

[cricketindiafan]

After the Headley incident, the Indian govt has made the visa process for pakistani origin foreign nationals much more stringent. The local high commissions do not issue visa for people with such passports. It goes to the home ministry in Delhi for vetting and clearance. The entire process is lengthy and time consuming.

IIRC happened to some Pakistani origin Canadian players before the WC but they did get the visa after the due process.

Yes, athletes should not go through such problems but then in the past there is a history of India and Pakistan denying/delaying visas for sporting teams from the other side. For that matter, a number of Indian atheletes are denied visa by Australia citing their poor financial condition.

Unfortunate and avoidable.

[lipton]

not bighearted ppl in INdia. smh!!

[Monsee]

^^^cricketindiafan, Care to provide some examples from Pakistani side?

[PerfectionPersonified]

Originally Posted by cricketindiafan After the Headley incident, the Indian govt has made the visa process for pakistani origin foreign nationals much more stringent. The local high commissions do not issue visa for people with such passports. It goes to the home ministry in Delhi for vetting and clearance. The entire process is lengthy and time consuming. IIRC happened to some Pakistani origin Canadian players before the WC but they did get the visa after the due process. Yes, athletes should not go through such problems but then in the past there is a history of India and Pakistan denying/delaying visas for sporting teams from the other side. For that matter, a number of Indian atheletes are denied visa by Australia citing their poor financial condition. Unfortunate and avoidable.

just for your reference he is Aussie ----

he grew up in Australia---and plays for Australia


moronic to defend this tbh

[cricketindiafan]

Originally Posted by PerfectionPersonified ^ just for your reference he is Aussie ---- he grew up in Australia---and plays for Australia moronic to defend this tbh

Did you read what I said?

Was he born in Pakistan?Yes
Will that be mentioned on his passport? Yes

All such passports go to Delhi for vetting and clearance.

And no I am not defending it. I am giving you the reason why the visa will take longer than it takes for an Aussie player born gin Australia or elsewhere.

[Down2Earth]

they were defending praveen kumar, this is nothing in comparison

[PerfectionPersonified]

^Yes i know

[MenInG]

AS cricketindiafan says - that is the policy. It wasnt devised for Usman Khawaja

[PerfectionPersonified]

Originally Posted by MenInG AS cricketindiafan says - that is the policy. It wasnt devised for Usman Khawaja

racist policy tbh

[cricketindiafan]

BTW I just now found that Khawaja had earlier travelled to India as captain of the Australian u-19 team in 2005.

http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Sc.../83/83716.html

Should be no reason why he should be denied the visa this time.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by cricketindiafan After the Headley incident, the Indian govt has made the visa process for pakistani origin foreign nationals much more stringent. The local high commissions do not issue visa for people with such passports. It goes to the home ministry in Delhi for vetting and clearance. The entire process is lengthy and time consuming. IIRC happened to some Pakistani origin Canadian players before the WC but they did get the visa after the due process. Yes, athletes should not go through such problems but then in the past there is a history of India and Pakistan denying/delaying visas for sporting teams from the other side. For that matter, a number of Indian atheletes are denied visa by Australia citing their poor financial condition. Unfortunate and avoidable.

Care to provide some examples from Pakistani side?

[liaqat]

indian embssey showing its true colors,

[PerfectionPersonified]

^ like which color in general?

[ahamedirshad123]

Even Australia refused visas to Pakistani Wrestler, but I don't know why Usman was denied Visa by IE.

[PerfectionPersonified]

hahah How indian fans have started to elaborate Pakistani wrestlers Visa refusal to Australia

[cricketindiafan]

Originally Posted by Monsee Care to provide some examples from Pakistani side?

http://www.rediff.com/sports/2005/jun/19box.htm


Pakistan denies visas to Indian boxers

[shahrukh619]

Indian Embassy really has to sort things out, they even gave my visa late. The deadline was up to 45 days, but i got mine after 3-4 months. Which was more then 45 days.

But our own Pakistani high commision in Pakistan also does the same. They will block visa in Pakistan,so the Indian high commision tries to the same with them, this is what they do all the time. Childish....

[Romali_rotti]

But didnt Owaish Shah play in the ipl a few seasons back ?????

[cricketindiafan]

Originally Posted by Romali_rotti But didnt Owaish Shah play in the ipl a few seasons back ?????

Played even in the last IPL for Kochi, played for Delhi in the Champions League last year as well.

Usman has already toured India with the u-19 team. Wonder why there is an issue in giving him the visa for CL.

[ahamedirshad123]

Originally Posted by Romali_rotti But didnt Owaish Shah play in the ipl a few seasons back ?????

And they allowed Yaser Arafat last time. He played for Sussex in CLT20

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Romali_rotti But didnt Owaish Shah play in the ipl a few seasons back ?????

If true then this is even a bigger mess as Khawaja has been to India in 2005 with Aussie U19 team...what retards!

How come you have'nt posted in my PehalwanGate thread?

[Romali_rotti]

Originally Posted by Monsee How come you have'nt posted in my PehalwanGate thread?

UMMMmm I am kinda lost here, a bit of help ?

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Romali_rotti UMMMmm I am kinda lost here, a bit of help ?

Put your glasses on and look right below this thread

[Itachi]

Oops just now saw this thread. Some people are running behind me! Lol....

I meant its the policies. The high commission yet didn't reveal the reason. May be some irregularities in documents?

Australia did the same to pakistani wrestler (read that thread in time pass).... So high commission in every country has something against pakistani nationals i guess....

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by Monsee How come you have'nt posted in my PehalwanGate thread?

lol.... This is low.... Now people are begging to post on their threads?

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Itachi lol.... This is low.... Now people are begging to post on their threads?

Shakal achi na ho to

RR ad I go way back...iss liyayay chup rehna kabhi kabhi acha hota hai

[Mian Hassan]

the indians should be ashamed of this

[Lara400]

This does not take me by surprise at all, In fact I'm happy in a way that other than the PCB its happened to another board and that too ACB.

[shahrukh619]

Originally Posted by cricketindiafan Played even in the last IPL for Kochi, played for Delhi in the Champions League last year as well. Usman has already toured India with the u-19 team. Wonder why there is an issue in giving him the visa for CL.

Its probably cause the Pakistani high comission mayby trying to stop some indian players visa to Pakistan.

They actaully do thse kind of stupid stuff.

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by Monsee Shakal achi na ho to RR ad I go way back...iss liyayay chup rehna kabhi kabhi acha hota hai

ha ha. And you think i didn't know that from your post?

take this with a pinch of salt mate.... Chill.... You think only you can joke around here?

[Striver]

Wonder why Malik/Akram etc don't have these kinda problems.

[ahamedirshad123]

Two more teams from England to play this year

[PerfectionPersonified]

Originally Posted by Striver Wonder why Malik/Akram etc don't have these kinda problems.

They have indian interests

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by ahamedirshad123 Even Australia refused visas to Pakistani Wrestler, but I don't know why Usman was denied Visa by IE.

Irrelevant unless the wrestler had non-pakistani nationality!

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by Itachi Oops just now saw this thread. Some people are running behind me! Lol.... I meant its the policies. The high commission yet didn't reveal the reason. May be some irregularities in documents? Australia did the same to pakistani wrestler (read that thread in time pass).... So high commission in every country has something against pakistani nationals i guess....

And yes it's not only India who are strict on this matter.

For a couple of months ago, when I was in Jordan and wanted to travel to Syria they refused to give me and my friends Visa. We are all norwegian nationals though some of us were born in Pakistan and Morocco.

[DramaHai]

TBH majority countries in the world delay visa processing for Pakistani citizens or Pakistani born. It is a fact. Also first visit Visas do require Background checking. Entry next time wont be an issue if everything is clear

[JellyBro]

they dont want another famous indian girl to fall for a studly pakistani chap. Happens all the time and brings shame to their country

[Foozee]

this is sad

[ammo]

WHAT?!? he is playing cricket big fan of Khawaja hope this doesn't happen in an international series

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by IAJ And yes it's not only India who are strict on this matter. For a couple of months ago, when I was in Jordan and wanted to travel to Syria they refused to give me and my friends Visa. We are all norwegian nationals though some of us were born in Pakistan and Morocco.

True, my uncle was denied a UAE visa simply because he had an Israeli visa sticker in his passport from a previous 6 day visit there.

[Random Aussie]

Jaw dropping. If this is not out and out racism what is?

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Jaw dropping. If this is not out and out racism what is?

Do you even know the meaning of the word racism? A Pakistani and an Indian belong to the same race!

[Random Aussie]

Originally Posted by Bengaluru Do you even know the meaning of the word racism? A Pakistani and an Indian belong to the same race!

Wow didn't take a defender long to run in.

It is sorry, discrimination against a person because of where they were born.

And you would know the meaning of racism seeing as you are from what is commonly called one of the most racist countries on earth. But how can that be if you are all Indians?

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Jaw dropping. If this is not out and out racism what is?

bengalaru already made a good point....

But aussie bhai, last month australia denied visa for a pakistani wrestler.... That can be call racism though

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Wow didn't take a defender long to run in. It is sorry, discrimination against a person because of where they were born. And you would know the meaning of racism seeing as you are from what is commonly called one of the most racist countries on earth. But how can that be if you are all Indians?

I am not from Australia, mate.

[IgnitedMind]

As said Owais Shah was here for ipl, even khwaja himself was here in 2005.

We issued 5000 visas for WC mohali match.

Pak players came here for common wealth.(and also recieved a good applause at the stadium)..

So there should be some issue here...most probably will be solved!!

[Itachi]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Wow didn't take a defender long to run in. It is sorry, discrimination against a person because of where they were born. And you would know the meaning of racism seeing as you are from what is commonly called one of the most racist countries on earth. But how can that be if you are all Indians?

lol india is racist country?

For your info mate, australia is 1st place in racist countries in front of russia.... And this is not the topic. So don't put irrelevant things in your post unless you know what it means.

[Sir john]

indian high commission following guidelines from home ministry

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by Itachi lol india is racist country? For your info mate, australia is 1st place in racist countries in front of russia.... And this is not the topic. So don't put irrelevant things in your post unless you know what it means.

Exactly, an Aussie commenting on racism is a travesty. Even the UN has called them out on it. Pot. Kettle. Black.

http://www.news.com.au/national/entr...-1225766872007

[IgnitedMind]

The way we manage to live together with so much diversities in religion,language,culture etc etc, with only odd incidents happening here and there should probably make us the least racist country.

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by navroks123 As said Owais Shah was here for ipl, even khwaja himself was here in 2005. We issued 5000 visas for WC mohali match. Pak players came here for common wealth.(and also recieved a good applause at the stadium).. So there should be some issue here...most probably will be solved!!

Khwaja came in 2005 but this rule of vetting Pakistan born persons living elsewhere only came about after the 2008 David Headley incident. No such issues in 2005.

[Kaaatil]

Originally Posted by Random Aussie Jaw dropping. If this is not out and out racism what is?

Quite ironical for an Aussie to be talking of racism after what transpired in 2010. People have short memories, don't they.

[farsiddiqui]

To all the Indian posters:

Pakistanis living in Pakistan applying for an Indian visa is difficult but not as much - so the Mohali match, etc. is a different scenario altogether.

Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin - Since 2009, they must apply on a Pakistani passport. I applied for a business visa 15 months ago and still waiting. So to the apoligists stating that every country does background check etc., no reasonable process should take that long. The longest I've heard is 22 months for someone to get back a visa.

From what I've heard from within the Indian consulate sources is that the application goes to Delhi and just sits their for months, without any work being done, in hopes that the applicant would withdraw the application anyway.

This is really embarassing for the Indian government when atheletes are treated this way as well. You all remember the four Canadian players that couldn't get the visa for the world cup until the last minute?

[Moh@n]

There has to be something other than the fact that he's born in Pakistan. Why did Aleem Dar not face such an issue when he came here to officiate in the IPL?

[Paradox]

Yes, Usman Khawaja, a citizen of Australia who's probably the most talented cricketer in the country is coming to India to kill people because he's a terrorist who's only using playing cricket as a way to disguise his other 'activities'.

Nice one, India.

[Bengaluru]

Originally Posted by farsiddiqui To all the Indian posters: Pakistanis living in Pakistan applying for an Indian visa is difficult but not as much - so the Mohali match, etc. is a different scenario altogether. Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin - Since 2009, they must apply on a Pakistani passport. I applied for a business visa 15 months ago and still waiting. So to the apoligists stating that every country does background check etc., no reasonable process should take that long. The longest I've heard is 22 months for someone to get back a visa. From what I've heard from within the Indian consulate sources is that the application goes to Delhi and just sits their for months, without any work being done, in hopes that the applicant would withdraw the application anyway. This is really embarassing for the Indian government when atheletes are treated this way as well. You all remember the four Canadian players that couldn't get the visa for the world cup until the last minute?

Applying for a visa does not mean that it is guaranteed that you will be issued with a visa. The way you make it sound is as if you are doing the Indians a favour by applying for a visa and as though the Indians are ignoring your favour by taking their time to consider your application.

I am for one am not at all embarassed, as you put it, by the time it takes to process these visas. I'd rather they take however long it takes to process them rather than issues visas left right and center and in turn compromise security. In the case of Khwaja, CA is in talks with the Indian mission and eventually, a visa will be issued.

[farsiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Moh@n There has to be something other than the fact that he's born in Pakistan. Why did Aleem Dar not face such an issue when he came here to officiate in the IPL?

Again. Aleem Dar is Pakistani living in Pakistan. This new policy (since Oct. 2009) applies to foreign nationals of Pakistani origin.

Heck it even applies to people that are borned elsewhere, but their father or even grandfather was a Pakistani citizen. So even if Usman Khwaja was born in Australia, his application would have taken a while.

I have a friend who was born in US, his parents migrated from Pakistan in the 1960s, it took him exactly one year to get a business visa for India (although after much effort, he was able to convince them to let him apply on his US passport, since he never was a Pakistani citizen and couldn't get a Pakistani passport)

[90MPH]

Not surprised, but I am by those defending this shameful act.

[farsiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Bengaluru Applying for a visa does not mean that it is guaranteed that you will be issued with a visa. The way you make it sound is as if you are doing the Indians a favour by applying for a visa and as though the Indians are ignoring your favour by taking their time to consider your application. I am for one am not at all embarassed, as you put it, by the time it takes to process these visas. I'd rather they take however long it takes to process them rather than issues visas left right and center and in turn compromise security. In the case of Khwaja, CA is in talks with the Indian mission and eventually, a visa will be issued.

A timely response (yes or no) is too much to expect?

It is not about doing a favor (although opening a business unit and creating 100s of jobs should count for something, shouldn't it?), but if you take your rose-colored glasses off, you could see the difference between due diligence (what most countries do) and pure discrimination. And when the application singles out anyone with anything remotely to do with Pakistan only, I don't think you can call it anything else.

Not blaming India 100% because Pakistan most likely does the same things to Indians, but let's stop calling it a normal procedure. It has everything to do with the animosity between the countries.

[RehanG]

haha this is india my dear, we applied for indian visa 3 months prioir our visit ... and heard nothing til 1 month before so when asked they said it will take another 4-5 months..

buLLshiTT

and on other hand Indians whom visited pakistan (those i know) got there visa with in time limit and without an problem

[ash 68]

I have to say I find it astounding that the Visa process for India involves delays for those with Pakistani born parents even though they maybe citizens of another country and the applicant is not a Pakistani

I was asked to go on business to India and found the procedure so long and absurd because of my parents origin that I gave up and cancelled plans


I have found it easier to travel throughout Russiafor the same business.

Every country has its own rules etc but Indian Embassy have a backward attitude- hence the animosity on this forum from many

[W63L35]

Originally Posted by farsiddiqui Again. Aleem Dar is Pakistani living in Pakistan. This new policy (since Oct. 2009) applies to foreign nationals of Pakistani origin. Heck it even applies to people that are borned elsewhere, but their father or even grandfather was a Pakistani citizen. So even if Usman Khwaja was born in Australia, his application would have taken a while. I have a friend who was born in US, his parents migrated from Pakistan in the 1960s, it took him exactly one year to get a business visa for India (although after much effort, he was able to convince them to let him apply on his US passport, since he never was a Pakistani citizen and couldn't get a Pakistani passport)

This is very much true....


My cousin.... born in Nigeria to Pakistani parents, he was 4 year old when came to USA.... have citizen since he was 10 year old. Now he 26. Two years ago he applied for a visa to visit India to attend a wedding of his college mate. He applied for Indian visa 3 months before the wedding.... he did not get the visa before the wedding so he recalled his passport and never got the visa.

[velu]

Indian high commission does a facepalm moment again

If we do this to a normal pakistani citizen, then it can be acceptable considering the difficulties.
But there should be some exceptions and in case of Khawaja his visa application should not
go through the normal never ending process to get visa.
I am sure the high commission knows he is a cricketer ( visa application might have came together with other aussies ), and there is no valid reason to delay his visa process.

[insaftak]

This is nothing. one of my friend's brother works for emirates. he was born in Russia and is now a United states citizen. he had to go to india for some training program and had his passport stuck in indian consulate in New York for more than 2 months because he had traveled to pakistan on that passport. During this time his father passed away and he had to get his passport back.

He had to do go through this again and still has his passport stuck in indian consulate

[Runner Up]

100 rupees ka noate de deta bahir kisi agent ko.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by Itachi ha ha. And you think i didn't know that from your post? take this with a pinch of salt mate.... Chill.... You think only you can joke around here?

So, if I don't put a smiley in my post...it means I am flaming mad?

You have got a lot to learn about joking and chiling

[velu]

Originally Posted by runner up 100 rupees ka noate de deta bahir kisi agent ko.

If you apply for Indian visa, i am sure u will get it in 1 or 2 days

[dps2009]

i am sure the visa will be approved, it is just that anyone who has previous affiliation with pak has to go through a different system of clearance. there is a different procedure that is followed and that will not change if you are a cricketer or whatever.