Pakistan Issues Visas to Indian Pilgrims for Katas Raj Visit
Indian government's response to Pakistani pilgrims has not always been as welcoming.
New Delhi: Pakistan has issued 154 visas to Indian pilgrims for their visit to the sacred Shree Katas Raj Temples in the Chakwal district. The pilgrimage is scheduled to take place from February 24 to March 2, 2025.
On this occasion, Charge d’Affaires of Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, extended his best wishes to the pilgrims, hoping that their journey would be spiritually rewarding and fulfilling. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to facilitating such visits in accordance with its policy to promote interfaith harmony and mutual understanding.
Under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, thousands of Indian pilgrims visit Pakistan each year to attend various religious festivals. The Pakistani government has consistently issued visas to Indian pilgrims for such visits, in line with its efforts to foster peaceful ties and religious cooperation.
However, the Indian government’s response to Pakistani pilgrims has not always been as welcoming. Last month, India denied visas to 400 Pakistani pilgrims who wished to attend the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer Sharif. In contrast, India issued visas to only 100 Pakistani pilgrims, significantly below the allocated quota of 500 for the annual event.
According to the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Muhammad Umar Butt, India has limited the number of visas issued for this year, preventing 400 potential Pakistani pilgrims from traveling.
Read more: Empty Stands Mar India’s Dominant Win Over Bangladesh
Earlier this year, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued 94 visas to Indian pilgrims to attend the 316th Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi in Sindh, from January 5 to 15, 2025.
Charge d’Affaires Saad Ahmad Warraich once again wished the Indian pilgrims a fulfilling and spiritually enriching journey.
