Sushma Swaraj attacks Sartaj Aziz on grant of medical visas for Pak nationals

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday took on Pakistan’s foreign affairs head Sartaj Aziz for failing to acknowledge her letter urging him to grant visa to Kulbhushan Jadhav's mother. In a series of tweets, Swaraj launched a blistering attack on Aziz following reports in Pakistani media that India was not granting medical visas to patients from across the border. Mrs Swaraj said her government it was Aziz who was responsible for blocking medical visas for Pakistani nationals in need of urgent medical intervention in hospitals across India.

Swaraj’s reaction comes after a Pakistani cancer patient sought her help in getting a medical visa for her treatment in India.

Swaraj wrote on Twitter that she has full sympathies with the Pakistani nationals who are seeking medical visa for their treatment in India, but for that India requires Aziz’s recommendation.

I see no reason why should he hesitate to give his recommendation for nationals of his own country. /4

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017

She said she had personally written a letter to Pakistan’s PM advisor on foreign affairs over pending visa application of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother Avantika Jadhav to which Aziz did not show any courtesy to acknowledge her letter.

We also have a visa application pending for an Indian national Mrs.Avantika Jadhav who wants to meet her son in Pakistan /5

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017

Swaraj said India will issue medical visa immediately if a patient takes his recommendation for the same. 

But I assure Pakistan nationals seeking medical visa with a recommendation from Mr.Sartaj Aziz, we will issue the visa immediately. /9

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 10, 2017

Faiza Tanveer, 25, is suffering from a recurrent ameloblastoma, an oral tumour which is aggressive in nature.

She planned to visit the Inderprastha Dental College and Hospital (IDCH) in Ghaziabad and paid Rs 10 lakh in advance for treatment, according to a Pakistani media report.

But the Indian High Commission in Islamabad rejected her medical visa application, the report said.

Also Read: Pakistan summons Indian high commissioner for not issuing medical visas

Tanveer's mother claimed that her application was rejected because of deteriorating ties between the two countries. That forced Tanveer to take to social media to move Indian authorities.

Tanveer in several tweets over the past couple of days has urged Swaraj to intervene. She has also posted her photo and a video that showed her tumour.