While Indian Sikh and Hindu pilgrims visiting Pakistan are given red carpet treatment by both officials and locals, Pakistani civilian pilgrims visiting India are seldom treated with the same level of amity and hospitality by the Indian authorities, who police them around like prisoners, unwarrantedly restricting their movement in the country, all under the absurd guise of maintaining security.
Malik Yousuf Sikandar, a local from Lahore, shared his horrible experience visiting New Delhi as a green passport holder. In April, I went to India for attending the Urs celebrations of Hazrat Amir Khusro. However, my journey was extremely unpleasant. All pilgrims were accommodated in a hotel in Delhi, where Indian police and intelligence agencies kept a strict watch, not even allowing us to visit each others rooms. A fellow pilgrim had an Indian relative, who visited the hotel to meet him but was not allowed by the security officials, shared Sikandar.
Similarly, Tariq Mehmood, who visited India to attend the annual Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was hoping to receive a warm welcome from the host country however, soon after his arrival all his hopes were shattered. We were only allowed to visit the hotel and the shrine and were not allowed to explore the city or visit historical sites. All 230 pilgrims were restricted to their hotel and only allowed to visit the shrine during prayer times. Just like Indian pilgrims are given a warm welcome at the Wagah Border, with special transportation, accommodation, and security arrangements, Pakistani pilgrims too should be treated with the same level of respect, expressed Mehmood.
According to Abdul Basit Khan, former Ambassador to India, India had failed to reciprocate the gestures of peace initiated by Pakistan. Pakistanis are generally very hospitable and respectful towards Indian pilgrims.
However, India is not interested in allowing Pakistani tourists to visit their country since they suspect that Pakistan may send intelligence personnel along with the pilgrims. Hence, they issue very few visas and restrict the activities of the tourists in the name of security, asserted Khan.
Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said, If Pakistani pilgrims face any difficulties in India, their complaints are forwarded to the Foreign Ministry so that they can take up the matter with Indian authorities. Moreover, officials from the Pakistani High Commission also meet with Pakistani pilgrims traveling to India and try to provide them with all possible facilities and address their complaints.
