New Delhi, 12 August (asiantribune.com): Notwithstanding the sudden dip in the relations between the two countries, and the daily accusations of infiltration from across the border into Kashmir, India would like to keep the news channels’ open with Pakistan.
There is a ban on Indian TV news channels in Pakistan besides the channels that dish out sitcoms daily. That has not prevented people from accessing these channels through the DTH route or satellite dish antenna. Pakistan has also restricted the commercial exchange’ of Indian newspapers, books and periodicals.
Indian Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Jaipal Reddy told Parliament on Thursday that New Delhi had again taken up the issue of media exchanges with Pakistan.
''As informed by the External Affairs Ministry, Pakistan exercises a ban on Indian news channels and print media,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Jaipal Reddy said a reply adding that the Foreign Office was in touch with its Pak counterparts.
Pakistan TV channels and intelligentsia have also been lobbying to lift the ban, he added. Pakistan TV is also popular on this side of the border particularly for its sitcoms. India is home to as many as 5591 newspapers including periodicals.
In the border areas, particularly of Rajasthan, its signal is very powerful, according to a law maker from the border area, who raised the issue in parliament. Indian state broadcaster Doordarshan has a limited reach in the far flung areas and despite the periodical assurances of Information & Broadcasting Ministry, the situation remains unchanged.
