The spokesperson was asked about the possibility of an official visit by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Mann to Pakistan. Responding to the question, Khan said that if Mann wanted to visit Pakistan, the government would consider issuing him a visa. However, he clarified that granting permission for Mann to travel to Pakistan was a separate matter that fell under the jurisdiction of the Indian government.
On October 23, Bhagwant Mann had revealed that he had received an invitation to attend the World Punjabi Conference scheduled to take place in Lahore on November 27. However, he questioned whether he would be allowed to travel to Pakistan.
Mann said that the cultures of India and Pakistan were similar and that several poets from Punjab would also travel to Pakistan to participate in the event. He also expressed his desire for all members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly to visit Kartarpur Sahib if the Kartarpur Corridor reopened.
Kartarpur Corridor Closed Since May 2025
The Kartarpur Corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab with the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. It was established to facilitate visits by Sikh devotees to the shrine. Under the arrangement, Indian pilgrims can visit the gurdwara without obtaining a Pakistani visa, subject to the prescribed travel arrangements.
However, the corridor has remained closed to pilgrims from the Indian side since May 7, 2025. On the same day, India carried out missile strikes on nine terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Pakistan has stated that it is ready to facilitate pilgrims' visits once the restrictions are lifted.
Pakistan Says Committed to Promoting Religious Pilgrimages
During the briefing, the Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan welcomes devotees of all religions and remains committed to facilitating visits to religious sites.
He said Pakistan issued more than 9,000 visas to Indian religious pilgrims in 2025, including Sikh and Hindu devotees. During the first six months of this year, more than 4,000 additional visas were issued to Sikh pilgrims.
The spokesperson also said Pakistan expects to welcome a large number of Sikh devotees to Nankana Sahib this month for the 557th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
He further highlighted the facilities previously available through the Kartarpur Corridor, stating that more than 5,000 pilgrims were allowed to visit the gurdwara and return on the same day.
Khan also referred to the 1974 India-Pakistan Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which provides the framework for facilitating religious pilgrimages between the two countries.
In addition, Pakistan spoke about measures to protect and preserve Buddhist heritage sites, including Taxila and Takht-i-Bahi. The country also announced plans to establish a special task force for this purpose.
Pakistan's statement on Bhagwant Mann's possible visit comes amid the continuing restrictions on cross-border movement through the Kartarpur Corridor, while the proposed Lahore conference and upcoming religious celebrations remain significant occasions for people-to-people and religious exchanges between the two countries.
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