NEW DELHI, INDIA, June 3, 2006: India and Pakistan decided to work on a proposal to open at least eight more religious places for pilgrims from either side as Culture Secretaries of the two countries wound up their two-day talks aimed at promoting friendly exchanges. During the talks in New Delhi between Culture Secretary Badal K. Das and his Pakistani counterpart Jalil Abbas, the two countries discussed increasing the number of pilgrimage centers from eight to 13 for mutual religious visits, an official source said. Both countries will now identify the shrines that can be added to their current list of pilgrimage centers open to visitors from either side as they continue their dialogue, the source added. At present, pilgrim visits to and from Pakistan are restricted to five places with Sufi saint Moinuddin Chisti’s Shrine in Ajmer and historical gurdwaras in Punjab province of that country being the key centers of religious tours. Pakistani pilgrims are allowed to visit Muslim shrines in Sirhind, Agra and Delhi besides Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan. Sikhs from India visit Pakistan on pilgrimage tours to Nankana Sahib near Lahore, Dera Sahib and Janamasthan Guru Ramdas in Lahore, Rori Sahib in Emnabad and Panja Sahib near Islamabad. During the talks, India offered its assistance in the conservation of Katasraj temple and red sandstone for Jehangir’s tomb in Pakistan, the source said. Also, the two countries agreed to exchange visits of scholars and youth delegations and to host film festivals mutually.
A daily summary of world news for Hindus and non-Hindus alike