552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak: Pakistan issues 3,000 visas to Sikh pilgrims

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 12

The Pakistan High Commission for India has issued around 3,000 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

During their stay in Pakistan from November 17 to 26, the Sikh yatris would pay obeisance at different gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, said a Pakistan High Commission news release.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims living in other countries too would be visiting Pakistan to attend the event. 

“The issuance of maximum number of pilgrimage visas is in line with the Government of Pakistan’s efforts for promoting visits to religious shrines in Pakistan,” said the news release. 

The Pakistani announcement indicates the gulf between the two Foreign Offices. 

On Thursday, while being non-committal about the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said the government would allow 1,500 pilgrims to visit Pakistan as per the 1974 Indo-Pak protocol. A day later the Pakistan side announced double the number of visas.

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