PILGRIM POLITICS

It is a fact that both Pakistan and India share a religious heritage that is now commonly cherished by those on the ‘other’ side of the divide. Pakistan has many sites sacred to both Sikhs and Hindus, including gurdwaras and mandirs, while India hosts iconic dargahs, masjids and tombs of Sufi saints. However, while freedom of travel is severely restricted for citizens of Pakistan in India and vice versa, the limited number of pilgrims and religious tourists allowed to travel between the two countries are also facing great pressure as the bilateral relationship remains frozen in a state of mutual mistrust. On Tuesday, the Foreign Office denied Indian claims that Pakistan was responsible for urging Sikh pilgrims visiting this country for the Baisakhi festival to protest in favour of Khalistan. A senior Pakistani diplomat in New Delhi had earlier been summoned by the Indian government over the issue. New Delhi had also claimed that local authorities had denied Indian diplomats access to Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan. Earlier, Pakistani pilgrims wishing to participate in the urs of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty in Ajmer, and Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi, could not make the trip as India had not issued them visas. At least where religious visits are concerned, the two sides should not politicise these centuries-old pilgrimages that date back to a time before nationalism and hard borders existed.