Pakistan issues 737 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims

NEW DELHI: Pakistan has issued 737 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to attend an annual religious festival, the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi said on Monday, amid an ongoing diplomatic stalemate between the two neighbours.

The pilgrims are scheduled to travel to Pakistan from June 10 to June 19 to observe the anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh guru.

Under a 1974 bilateral protocol on visits to religious shrines, hundreds of Indian pilgrims visit Pakistan every year to attend various religious festivals and occasions.

“The issuance of visas is in line with the government of Pakistan’s commitment to fully implement the Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines,” the High Commission said in a statement.

The 10-day pilgrimage includes visits to several holier Sikh sites in Pakistan, where the ‘martyrdom day’ is traditionally observed with large-scale religious ceremonies.

Travel between the two nuclear-armed rivals remains largely restricted, with religious pilgrimages serving as one of the few remaining avenues for cross-border movement since diplomatic ties were downgraded in 2019.

The issuance of these visas comes just days before the commencement of the festival, allowing the pilgrims to cross the Wagah border to participate in the commemorations.