At least 3,000 visas were issued to Indian Sikh pilgrims on the eve of the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev by the Pakistan High Commission on Friday. The visas were issued to facilitate the visit of the pilgrims to Pakistan to offer prayers at various gurdwaras from November 17-26.
"Pakistan High Commission in India extends profound felicitations to the Sikh community in India and across the world on the 552nd birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh religion," it said.
The visas were issued a day after India hoped that Pakistan will facilitate the visit of Indian pilgrims to that country through the Attar-Wagah transit point in view of Gurupurab. The visas have been issued under the provision of the 1974 bilateral protocol between India and Pakistan on visits to religious shrines.
The Indian pilgrims will be able to visit different gurdwaras including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.
On Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi during a media briefing said that "It's been decided that a 'jatha' of around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from Nov 17-26 as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines b/w India-Pakistan,".
(With PTI Inputs)
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