Capt. Amarinder Singh’s visit to Katas Raj in Chakwal district of Pakistani Punjab. | Archive image | Photo Credit: Rattan Bali
The announcement came days after Islamabad issued 220 visas for the Shadani Darbar temple in Sukkur where a century old Hindu festival is continuing.
Continuing its soft diplomacy, Pakistan has issued a large number of visas for Hindu pilgrims who will participate in the week long festival at the famed Shiva temple at Katas Raj near the city of Lahore.
“Group of Indian pilgrims, comprising 139 people, has been issued visas by the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to visit Shree Katas Raj Dham, in Chakwal district from December 9-15, 2018,” stated a press release from the High Commission for Pakistan in the national capital.
The announcement came days after Islamabad issued 220 visas for the Shadani Darbar temple in Sukkur where a century old Hindu festival is continuing. These two batches of visas for the Hindu pilgrims came within a fortnight of Islamabad granting 300 visas for Sikh pilgrims who went to Nankana Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan’s Punjab where 549th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak is being celebrated.
This was followed by the formal inauguration of the work for building the corridor that will allow Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy temple at Kartarpur across the border.
The High Commission said that Pakistan remains committed to implement bilateral understanding of 1974 with India that allows pilgrims to travel freely.
Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood said that Pakistan remains committed to providing all possible help to the visiting Hindu pilgrims.