New Delhi, Nov 6 (UNI) Pakistan today admitted that ”very small number” of Indians were asked to return to India, but denied reports that Hindu pilgrims were not allowed to enter the country on Gurpurab on Wednesday.
At least 14 Hindu pilgrims were given visa for the 556th Guru Nanak birth anniversary celebrations at Nankana Sahib but were sent back. The pilgrims, with Indian passports but having Pakistan origin, were sent back even though they had clearance from Indian immigration authorities at Attari check post. More than 1900 pilgrims crossed over to Pakistan on Tuesday for the 10-day annual pilgrimage ending on November 13. This was the first jatha to travel to Pakistan after Operation Sindoor.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the small number could not provide satisfactory responses to immigration authorities and were asked to return to India.
”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,” the spokesman said.
Responding to media queries about reports in India that some members of the Hindu community were denied entry into Pakistan, the spokesman said that to suggest these individuals were denied entry on religious grounds is completely ”incorrect and mischievous.”
He said 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, . He said any attempt to give this issue a communal or political colour is regrettable.
Rejecting the ”allegations” the spokesman said Pakistan categorically rejects the ”unfounded and misleading” allegations and these claims are ”entirely baseless” and represent yet another attempt to distort facts and politicize a matter that was purely administrative in nature.
He said the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi had issued over 2,400 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji from 4-13 November.
On November 4 a total of 1,932 pilgrims successfully crossed into Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border. The entire immigration process on the Pakistani side was smooth, orderly and free of any hindrance.
To suggest that these individuals were denied entry on religious grounds is 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 spokesman said.
