Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally

In just one month in three meetings with the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, India’s Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar has flagged the topic of visa backlog for Indians.

At the other end, recently-dumped UK home secretary, Suella Braverman, made a priceless gaffe. In reply to a query about the need for visa flexibility for students and entrepreneurs under an India-UK FTA, Braverman said, “But I do have some reservations. Look at migration in this country – the largest group of people who overstay are Indian migrants”.

An interview for a visitor visa for the USA now runs a