First batch of Pak students lands in China but no word over Indian students

New Delhi, June 22: The first batch of Pakistani students, stuck back home for about two years due to China’s strict visa restrictions aimed at containing the COVID-19 pandemic, has arrived in the Chinese city of Xian. However, Beijing has been silent to permit the return of Indian students despite repeated assurances by Chinese officials.

 

 

Around 90 students from Pakistan flew to the city of Xian from Islamabad on a special flight on Monday. They will undergo a 14-day quarantine in Xian as per Covid-19 control and prevention measures imposed by the local government for passengers arriving from abroad, according to a report by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

Once the quarantine period is over, and only if the students test negative for Covid-19, they will be allowed to return to their universities in different cities in China, the report said.

 

 

China has been tight-lipped about calling over Indian students to the country. India's Ministry of External Affairs has time and again holding discussions with Chinese authorities but no action has been taken. As per China’s official reports, over 23,000 Indian students are studying in Chinese colleges. Over 12,000 Indian students have expressed their wish to return and their details have been forwarded to the Chinese government for processing.

 

 

China is yet to come up with a criterion to permit the return of the students as Beijing is reluctant to allow their return at once in view the recent COVID-19 spike in the country. Last week, China announced plans to provide visas to Indian professionals and their families working in various Chinese cities who are stuck back home for over two years due to Beijing’s COVID-19 visa bans.

 

The Chinese Embassy in India updated its COVID-19 visa policy after over two years to accept visa applications of foreign nationals and their accompanying family members wanting to go to China for the resumption of work in all fields. This week, it further updated with COVID-19 protocols to be followed by visa holders to travel to China.

 

 

While opening visa services to Indians, China is yet to announce plans to open flight facilities between the two countries. Currently, only diplomats between the two countries travel through the expensive third-country flight routes. However, China’s visa announcement has created hope that flight services too may be resumed between the two countries soon.