2,800 visas issued by Pakistan to Indians for Baisakhi pilgrimage
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Pakistan has issued about 2,800 visas to Indian nationals for this year’s Baisakhi pilgrimage, which is set to begin on April 10. This is lower than last year, when around 6,500 Indians visited various gurdwaras in Pakistan during the 10-day event.
The 2026 pilgrimage will be the first to take place after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
The Pakistan High Commission said in a statement on X, “On the occasion of Baisakhi festival, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued visas to more than 2,800 pilgrims from India, so that they can participate in the annual festival to be held in Pakistan from April 10 to 19, 2026.”
Pilgrims are expected to visit key Sikh religious sites, including Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, Indian Express reported.
Each year, a large number of Indian pilgrims travel to Pakistan for religious occasions under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines.
Last year saw the largest-ever Indian delegation for the Baisakhi festival. In 2024, about 2,843 visas were issued for the April pilgrimage, while another 962 Indians visited Pakistan from June 8 to 17 to mark the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev.
In November 2024, Pakistan issued over 2,100 visas to Indian pilgrims attending the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, held from November 4 to 13.
However, reports at the time said that more than 140 Indian Hindu pilgrims were denied entry at the Wagah border despite having valid visas and prior clearances, with authorities stating they were not Sikhs.