Pakistan cautions India against politicising pilgrims visa denial

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Thursday cautioned India against attempting to give communal or political colour to the issue of Indian Hindus being sent back because of incomplete documentation.

This is not only regrettable but also reflective of the prejudiced mindset that increasingly dominates the Indian government and media narratives, said the Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan when asked about Indian government’s allegations that 14 Indian Hindu citizens, with valid visas and part of a group travelling to Pakistan for the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, were sent back because they were Hindus and not Sikhs.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs had cleared the group.

“Pakistan categorically rejects the unfounded and misleading allegations that members of the Hindu community were denied entry into its territory. These claims are entirely baseless and represent yet another attempt to distort facts and politicize a matter that is purely administrative in nature,” clarified the spokesperson.

He pointed out that the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued over 2,400 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims to participate in the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji from 4-13 November. On 4 November 2025, a total of 1,932 pilgrims 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 despite the fact that the entire immigration process on the Pakistani side was smooth, orderly and free of any hindrance.

“A very small number of individuals were found to possess incomplete documentation and were unable to provide satisfactory responses to the immigration authorities. Consequently, they were requested to return to the Indian side in accordance with the standard procedures,” the spokesperson added.

However, it was not clear how the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had granted them visas with incomplete documentation.

The spokesperson stressed that to suggest that these individuals were denied entry on religious (Hindus) grounds was completely incorrect and mischievous. “Pakistan has always welcomed pilgrims of all faiths to visit its sacred religious sites under a well-established and facilitative framework. The action taken was purely administrative, consistent with Pakistan’s sovereign right to regulate entry into its territory,” Shafqat said.

Pakistan’s High Commission in Delhi had earlier said more than 2,100 pilgrims were granted visas to attend the 10-day festival, a decision that was in line with efforts to promote “interreligious and intercultural harmony and understanding”.