On the other hand, India s continued denial of visas to Pakistani pilgrims and its violations of the rights of religious minorities are causing global concern.

Recently, India granted visas to only 100 Pakistani pilgrims for the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which is much lower than the prescribed quota of 500. This has raised questions about India s treatment of religious minorities and its protection of their rights.

Experts state that this action by the Indian government not only reflects the violation of the rights of religious minorities but has also negatively impacted cultural and religious relations between the two countries. Discriminatory treatment of minority communities in India and violations of their rights are being condemned internationally.

Pakistan has always respected the freedoms of its religious minority citizens and provided them access to their religious sites.

Pakistan s Kartarpur Corridor stands as a positive example in this regard. The corridor opened in 2019, allowing Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur in Pakistan without a visa. Through this corridor, thousands of Indian Sikhs have participated in religious celebrations like Guru Nanak s birthday, fostering cultural and religious harmony between the two countries. Pakistan has always warmly welcomed Sikh and Hindu pilgrims, offering them every possible facility to access their religious sites.

It is worth noting that Pakistan recently facilitated 84 Hindu pilgrims to attend the 316th birthday celebrations of Sant Shadarama Sahib at the Shadani Darbar in Sindh, further demonstrating Pakistan s commitment to interfaith harmony.

Pakistani authorities warmly welcomed the pilgrims, provided them with special travel arrangements for their religious ceremonies, and set their return for January 15. This initiative reflects Pakistan s commitment to promoting religious freedoms and cooperating with minority communities.

On the other hand, India s continued refusal to issue visas to Pakistani pilgrims has raised questions about its commitment to protecting the rights of religious minorities and facilitating interfaith relations. This action by India not only violates the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol but has also undermined the efforts to improve public relations between the two countries. In contrast, India s treatment of religious minorities is damaging its global reputation and exposing the reality of its policies.

Pakistan has always respected the freedoms of its religious minority citizens and taken various measures to protect their rights. India s refusal to grant visas reflects its disregard for the rights of its religious minorities.

Pakistan s efforts to protect the rights of minority communities and provide them access to their religious sites is a practice that is contributing to the promotion of religious freedoms not just domestically but also on the global stage.

In contrast, India s actions have not only damaged its reputation but have also affected the religious and cultural relations between the two countries.