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WAGAH, PAKISTAN/INDIA BORDER, December 22, 2003: For the first time after 1997 a group of 49 Hindu pilgrims today crossed over to Pakistan to pay obeisance at the various Hindu temples in the neighboring country. The Hindu pilgrims group led by Sant Yudishtra Lal from Chattisgarh before crossing over to Pakistan said that after a gap of more than five years the Union Ministry of External Affairs has allowed the Jatha of Hindu pilgrims to visit Hindu Temples in Pakistan. Earlier the Pakistan Government had refused to provide security cover to the visiting Hindus in Pakistan due to threat perceptions from the fundamentalist groups in Pakistan. Yudishtra Lal said during the 10-day visit the pilgrims will pay obeisance at various Hindu Temples including Hayat Pitafi, Sadhu Bella, Shadani Darbar and other temples of Lord Siva in Sakar Sind area. It may be mentioned here that two months back in October this year the Pakistan High Commission had denied visas to 50 Hindus to visit Pakistan when the Union Ministry of External Affairs permitted them to visit Shadani Darbar, Hayat, Bedani, Sakar Sind to observe the 296 birth the anniversary of Saint Sharda Ram in Pakistan.

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