“We are disappointed that pilgrims from Pakistan were unable to attend the Urs, but this was a measure of abundant precaution aimed at ensuring safety and welfare of the pilgrims, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson said. PHOTO: FILE
The Indian government apologised on Saturday for turning away dozens of Pakistani pilgrims who wanted to attend the annual Urs of revered Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer Sharif on May 1 to May 12 this year.
On Friday, Pakistan summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baghlay to lodge a protest over denial of visas to 500 Pakistani pilgrims to visit the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
“India has always cherished these age-old cultural and civilisational linkages that exist across our borders amongst all countries of our unique subcontinent, and will always nurture these links for the benefit of future generations,” Indian ministry of external affairs spokesperson S Akbaruddin said on Saturday.
“We are most certainly disappointed that this year pilgrims from Pakistan were unable to attend the Urs at what is one of the holiest shrines of our region. But this was a measure of abundant precaution aimed at ensuring safety and welfare of the pilgrims which, I think, should always be our priority,” he added.
Visits to religious shrines in Pakistan and India are governed under the Bilateral Protocol on Visits to the Religious Shrines, 1974.
Pakistan conveyed its deep disappointment and concern over the denial of visas by the Indian government, said a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office in Islamabad.
In response, the Indian government said, “It is true that this was a last moment decision, all government agencies, including our railway authorities, had made full arrangements to transport over 500 Zaireens (pilgrims) from Pakistan from the Attari railway station to Ajmer and back. [However] India is in the midst of the general elections. A visit of such a large group of Zaireens from Pakistan would have required much more elaborate arrangements than what is usually done for such events”.
“We are most certainly disappointed that this year pilgrims from Pakistan were unable to attend the Urs at what is one of the holiest shrines of our region,” said Akbaruddin.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2014.
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@madhu: Sikh pilgrims regularly visit Pakistan for various events. They are treated with utmost respect and usually go back with a favorable impression of the country.
dear Sir, it is better for both indians and pakistanis to avoid going to each other"s countries for the next 10 years at least- this is good for their own safety and peace of mind. Indians are not too friendly towards pakistanis in india - and the same is true about pakistanis towards indians , so why take unnecessary risks. The majority of pakistanis do not respect the shias, christians, hindus, ahmadis,sufis- so why should indians go to such a hostile country. The same thing is with indians - they really do not like pakistanis after mumbai 26/11- so why to go such a country.
I hope the Pakistani pilgrims understand the reservations of GOI which are absolutely appropriately placed.