India Grants Visas to 188 Pakistani Pilgrims for Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro Amid Record Sikh Visa Approvals by Pakistan
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In a rare display of mutual religious diplomacy, India has issued visas to 188 Pakistani pilgrims to attend the annual Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro in New Delhi, taking place from April 12 to 18, 2025. According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the pilgrims will depart from Lahore, following mandatory training sessions and completion of travel documentation.
The Urs, a major Sufi religious event, honors the death anniversary of Hazrat Amir Khusro, a revered 13th-century Sufi poet and musician. The event draws devotees from across South Asia to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in New Delhi, a significant spiritual and cultural site.
The issuance of visas by India comes on the heels of a historic gesture by Pakistan, which has granted 6,629 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for the Baisakhi 2025 celebrations, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and updates on www.mora.gov.pk. This is more than double the usual annual quota and the largest visa approval for Sikh pilgrims in over five decades.
The Baisakhi visas enable Indian Sikh devotees to visit holy gurdwaras across Pakistan, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and other key spiritual landmarks in Lahore, Hasan Abdal, and Kartarpur.
This surge in visa approvals represents a landmark moment in interfaith diplomacy and reflects Pakistan’s commitment to promoting religious harmony and regional peace. The government emphasized its desire to facilitate religious tourism while fostering people-to-people connections despite strained political ties with India.
At a time when India has been tightening visa policies, especially for religious minorities, Pakistan’s contrasting approach has garnered international praise for prioritizing cultural outreach and spiritual access. The move has been widely perceived as a soft power strategy to promote regional unity and highlight Pakistan’s dedication to religious freedom, as outlined in its broader interfaith engagement policies.
According to official sources at Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), which manages Sikh heritage sites, preparations are underway to host thousands of yatrees, ensuring logistics, security, medical care, and access to religious services. The pilgrimage season will also include events highlighting the shared heritage between Indian and Pakistani communities.
Observers from both sides of the border have described the current atmosphere as a window of opportunity for improving bilateral relations through cultural and religious dialogue. Religious events such as the Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro and Baisakhi at Nankana Sahib transcend politics and offer platforms for empathy, healing, and cross-border kinship.
As the pilgrims journey across borders in the spirit of faith, this diplomatic exchange stands as a powerful reminder that spiritual solidarity can foster peace even in the most divided regions.
For further updates on visa announcements and religious travel facilitation, refer to:
- Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs
- India’s official visa platform
- Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board
This renewed openness reflects the transformative potential of faith-based diplomacy, offering a beacon of hope and humanity in South Asia.
