India begins visa-on-arrival deal for Pakistani seniors

India is to begin issuing visas on arrival to Pakistani senior citizens, under a landmark deal aimed at easing travel between the two countries.

Citizens aged over 65 will be issued visas at the Wagah crossing.

The move is part of a bid to improve ties between Islamabad and New Delhi, after they were badly damaged by the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

But there has been fresh tension between the two sides in recent days in the disputed region of Kashmir.

Two Indian and two Pakistani soldiers have been killed in the last week in clashes near the Line of Control dividing Kashmir.

The violence has plunged the neighbours into the worst crisis in relations since the Mumbai attacks.

On Monday, Indian army chief Bikram Singh directed his commanders to respond "aggressively" to any firing by Pakistani forces in the region and the two sides held a meeting at the border aimed at reducing tensions.