TAXILA: The visit of 140 Hindu pilgrims, including those from India, to the Gurdwara Punja Sahib in Hassanabdal was termed a “turning point” for relations between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistan Hindu Council made arrangements for the pilgrims who are visiting the temple for four days.

Talking to journalists, leader of the pilgrims Shriman Mahatma Param Nityan and Ji said the fact that this visit was fully supported by the Pakistani government meant that there was a chance that tensions between both countries could ease.

He said the delegation earlier performed their religious rituals at Teri Temple, the century-old resting place of Hindu guru Shri Param Hans Dayal Ji Maharaj located in Karak district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Kavil Ram, for the first time in history, such an initiative was taken for Hindus and this could mark the beginning of rebuilding bridges between people of both countries.

He was of the view that there is potential for religious tourism between the two countries as various important spots like Katas Raj are located in Pakistan. “Let us forget the sour memories of the past and look for a better, bright and prosperous future to benefit the people of both sides of the border”, he said.

Another pilgrim Adrika Kumari expressed hope that the promotion of religious tourism could bring people of the two countries closer to each other.

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Additional Secretary Rana Shahid Saleem said the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PGPC) facilitates such initiatives and Pakistani authorities remain committed towards preserving sacred religious sites and extending all possible assistance to visiting pilgrims of all faiths, especially Sikhs and Hindus.

He said pilgrims were free to perform their religious rituals at other spots including Katas Raj, Raja Ranjit Singh’s Samadhi and Gurdwara Nankana Sahib besides other historical sites.

Earlier in an interview, Patron-in-Chief of Pakistan Hindu Council Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani said this was the first time during Pakistan’s 74-year history that such an initiative was taken for Hindus.

He said that the council has also decided to cooperate with Air India for the provision of transport facilities to Indian pilgrims, adding, flights would be operated from New Delhi to Peshawar and Karachi from next month.

“Every month one delegation from the Pakistan side would also leave for India to visit the Dargah of Khwaja Nizamuddin Aulia in New Delhi and the Dargah of Khawaja Ghareeb Nawaz in Ajmer Sharif.

While one international delegation would also arrive in Pakistan to visit religiously significant sites of Hinduism, including the Samadhi of Shri Param Hans Ji Maharaj Teri Temple and Hinglaj Mata Temple Balochistan,” he added.

Mr Vankwani said that the council would also arrange regular visits of Pakistani delegations to Muslim shrines in India, adding, the first such visit to Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan is scheduled for late January.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2022