India denies visa to 400 Pakistanis for Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urs

India has granted visas to only 100 Pakistani pilgrims for the annual Urs of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer Sharif, despite the Indian authorities having established a quota of 500 attendees from Pakistan.

A representative from the Religious Affairs Ministry confirmed that visas for 400 Pakistani pilgrims were denied by India, leading to disappointment among those wishing to attend the religious event.

The Urs, a major religious gathering at the shrine of Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti, is scheduled to take place in Ajmer, India.

The 100 pilgrims who received approval will travel to Ajmer Sharif via Wagah on January 5 (today).

The spokesperson emphasized that, despite the limited visa issuance, efforts will persist to support the participation of pilgrims in this significant religious occasion.

On the occasion, Charge d’ Affaires, Saad Ahmad Warraich, wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey.

He further stated that Pakistan remains committed to preserving scared religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims.

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.

In November, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued over 3000 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the birthday celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Pakistan.