Pakistan has granted 737 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims who will travel to attend an annual religious festival, despite the continuing diplomatic deadlock between the two countries. The pilgrims are scheduled to visit Pakistan from June 10 to June 19 to commemorate the anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, the fifth Sikh guru.
This pilgrimage is conducted under a bilateral protocol established in 1974, which facilitates visits to religious shrines. Each year, hundreds of Indian pilgrims make the journey to Pakistan to participate in various religious events and ceremonies.
In a significant development, the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi emphasized that the visa issuance aligns with Pakistan’s commitment to fully uphold the Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines. The 10-day pilgrimage itinerary includes visits to several sacred Sikh sites across Pakistan, where the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji is traditionally marked with large-scale religious observances.
Travel between the two nuclear-armed neighbors remains heavily restricted, with religious pilgrimages being one of the few exceptions allowing cross-border movement since diplomatic relations were downgraded in 2019. Notably, the visas were issued just days before the festival’s start, enabling the pilgrims to cross the Wagah border and take part in the commemorations.
