Govt to allow foreigners to visit Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur

New Delhi, April 26: In a significant move, the Union Home Ministry has allowed the foreigners -- except those from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan -- to visit tourist locations in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. which were so far restricted areas.

With the decision, applicable from April 1, the foreigner now can visit the three states for the next five years without any permit, an official said.

Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur were, since the last six decades, kept under Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime.

Earlier, from January 1, 2011, the PAP was initially lifted for one year from the three states as per a December 30, 2010 circular of the Union Home Ministry.

"Foreign tourist can visit tourist locations in Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur without any PAP from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2013. Citizens from Pakistan, China and Afghanistan are still banned from all PAP areas," the Home Ministry official said.