India Issues Travel Advisory, Asks Pilgrims Not to Visit Pak

With Pakistan being shaken by repeated terrorist strikes, India has issue a travel advisory asking Indian pilgrims against visiting that country.

The advisory said: “Government of India is of the view that it is not advisable for Indian pilgrims to visit Pakistan in the prevailing situation when frequent terrorist attacks are taking place in Punjab province of Pakistan, where all Gurudwaras are situated.”

“All Indian citizens to avoid undertaking any visit to Pakistan for this purpose, till the security situation in Pakistan improves,” the home ministry said.

It may be mentioned that in the past month, many terrorists strikes – both gunmen attack and suicide bomb explosion – took place in Pakistan in which suspected Taliban militants struck at key installations, including the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and a nuclear base at Kamra. So far 190 people have died in the violence.

Only on Friday, Pakistani officials have asked the government of India to provide a word on whether Sikh pilgrims will join festivities marking Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary though extensive arrangements have been made for their visit.

Though Pakistan government’s already having planned to deploy paramilitary Pakistan Rangers for the security of the pilgrims, he said that there was fear that the terror attacks, including three near-simultaneous strikes on security facilities in Lahore, could lead to many people canceling their plans to visit the country.

“We received a list of 4,000 Sikhs (from the Indian government) prior to the Lahore attacks, but after that the Indian side has not confirmed how many Sikhs are coming here via the Wagah border to observe Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary,” Fraz Abbas, deputy director(shrines) of the Evacuee Trust Property Board had said.

The ETPB is responsible for maintaining shrines of minority communities and organising visits by foreign pilgrims.

The main celebrations marking Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary will be held at Nankana Sahib, his birthplace located 80 km from Lahore.