ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has dismissed recent allegations that Hindu pilgrims were denied entry into the country, describing them as false, misleading, and politically motivated.
In a statement responding to media reports, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said the accusations were “completely baseless” and aimed at distorting facts about an issue that was purely administrative in nature.
He clarified that the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi had issued more than 2,400 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India for the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, scheduled from November 4 to 13. On Tuesday, 1,932 pilgrims successfully crossed into Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border, while nearly 300 visa holders were stopped by Indian authorities from crossing over.
Andrabi said the immigration process on Pakistan’s side was “smooth and transparent,” adding that a small number of individuals with incomplete documentation were asked to return to India under standard procedures.
He strongly rejected the suggestion that anyone was denied entry on religious grounds, calling such claims “mischievous and incorrect.”
The spokesperson reiterated that Pakistan has always welcomed pilgrims of all faiths to visit its religious sites under a facilitative framework. He stressed that the country’s actions were in line with its sovereign right to regulate entry into its territory.
Andrabi concluded that any attempt to portray the issue in a communal or political light was regrettable and reflected the biased mindset prevailing in Indian government and media narratives.
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