About 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India entered Pakistan via Wagah border on Tuesday to attend events associated with Gurpurb, the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, marking the first people-to-people contact between the two countries after the four-day conflict in May.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) president and Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chief Sajid Mahmood Chauhan and Additional Secretary (Shrines) Nasir Mushtaq received the Indian pilgrims at the Wagah check post.
Akal Takht leader Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, an Shiromoni Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) delegation led by Bibi Gurinder Kaur and Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee's Ravinder Singh Sweeta were among those who crossed the Wagah border into Pakistan. The Pakistan government had issued 2,150 visas to Indian Sikhs to attend Guru Nanak Dev's birth anniversary.
ETPB spokesperson Ghulam Mohyuddin said 2,100 Sikhs arrived in Lahore via Wagah on Tuesday. He said that after completing immigration and customs formalities, the pilgrims departed for Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, by special buses.
The main ceremony of Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary will be held on Wednesday at Gurdwara Janamasthan, 80 km from Lahore. “All gurdwaras, including the Janamasthan and Kartarpur Sahi, have been beautifully decorated with lights. For medical assistance, teams from Rescue 1122 and the ETPB medical unit will accompany the pilgrims," Nasir Mushtaq said.
He said foolproof security arrangements have been made at all entry points and surrounding areas. "Rangers, police, special forces and the ETPB's own security wing have been engaged for the pilgrims' security," he said.
During their 10-day stay, the Indian Sikhs will also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur. They will leave for India on November 13.
Tensions remain high between New Delhi and Islamabad after the four-day conflict in May following the Pahalgam terror attack. Since May, both countries have virtually cut off all contacts, and they have even placed a ban on the sharing of their airspace.
Also read: Centre allows Sikh jatha to Pak
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