Pakistan may permit Sikh pilgrims Baisakhi visits

New Delhi: Despite talks over the Kartarpur Sahib corridor being stuck in a limbo following Indian concerns over Khalistani propaganda in Pakistan, Islamabad may be gearing up for offering another bonanza to Indian Sikh pilgrims by allowing them to visit holy shrines on its territory on the occasion of Baisakhi, sources said.

The festival of Baisakhi is scheduled to be celebrated next week and speculation is rife that Pakistan may announce the major goodwill gesture next week.

In what could be another positive development, Pakistan may also agree to India’s suggestion to hold another meeting of technical experts in mid-April to discuss the alignment of corridors at the “zero-point” crossing of the border for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor that is being built by both sides in their respective territories. The Sikh pilgrimage on the corridor is likely to begin in November and help Indian pilgrims to visit the famous KartarpurSahib Gurudwara close to the border in Pakistani Punjab.

Incidentally, Pakistan high commissioner and now foreign secretary-designate Sohail Mahmood is expected to meet Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in New Delhi next week in a courtesy call before Mr Mahmood returns to Pakistan to take over as foreign secretary in Islamabad.

It may be recalled that Mr Mahmood’s innings as Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi was marked by his strong push for strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries despite political and military tensions between the two neighbours.