KEY POINTS
- Over 2,400 visas were issued to Sikh pilgrims from India for Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji birth anniversary celebrations
- Out of the pilgrims, 1,932 successfully crossed through the Attari-Wagah border.
- Around 300 were prevented from crossing by Indian authorities
- Pakistan always welcomed pilgrims of all faiths under a well-established and facilitative framework
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has firmly rejected the ‘unfounded and misleading’ claims that members of the Hindu community were denied entry into the country.
In response to media inquiries, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi on Thursday described the allegations as completely baseless, calling them an attempt to distort facts and politicize what was purely an administrative matter.
Hussain noted that the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi had issued over 2,400 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary from 4th to 13th November.
The Spokesperson said on Tuesday last, a total of 1,932 pilgrims successfully crossed into Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border.
“It is pertinent to note that approximately 300 visa holders were prevented by the Indian authorities from crossing over. The entire immigration process on the Pakistani side was smooth, orderly, and free of any hindrance,” said the statement.
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Statement by the Spokesperson
🔗⬇️https://t.co/dFfKmpgsGn pic.twitter.com/UoljDWCjuA
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 6, 2025
Tahir Husaain Andrabi said a very small number of individuals were found to possess incomplete documentation and were unable to provide satisfactory responses to immigration authorities.
Consequently, they were requested to return to the Indian side in accordance with standard procedures.
“To suggest that these individuals were denied entry on religious grounds is completely incorrect and mischievous,” the statement added.
He emphasised that Pakistan has always welcomed pilgrims of all faiths to visit its sacred religious sites through a well-established and facilitative framework. The measures taken were purely administrative and in line with Pakistan’s sovereign right to regulate entry into its territory.
On the auspicious occasion of the Birth Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Pakistan welcomes devotees from around the world.
Elaborate arrangements have been made to facilitate the pilgrims during their stay in Pakistan.
Baba Guru Nanak’s message of love and harmony is… pic.twitter.com/Bif87pb6yx
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) November 6, 2025
The Spokesperson added that any effort to politicise or communalise the issue is not only regrettable but also indicative of the biased mindset increasingly shaping Indian government policies and media narratives.
It may be called that President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended warm greetings to the Sikh community in Pakistan and around the world on the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Across Punjab, thousands of pilgrims from India, Europe, and North America joined the Gurpurab celebrations at Nankana Sahib, Kartarpur, and Punja Sahib, Hassan Abdal. The gurdwaras were illuminated with lights, as devotional hymns, kirtan, and langar (community meals) marked the day.
Observers say Pakistan’s facilitation of Sikh pilgrims reflects its commitment to interfaith harmony and the preservation of shared South Asian heritage. The celebrations have become both a spiritual observance and a symbol of cross-border goodwill.
