A group of Hindu pilgrims from India will cross into Pakistan on foot through the Wagha border crossing on Sunday (tomorrow) to visit the revered Shadani Darbar in Hayat Pitafi, Mirpur Mathelo, Sindh, for religious rituals.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 87 visas to Hindu pilgrims for their visit to Pakistan to participate in the 316th birth anniversary celebrations of Shiv Avtari Stguru Sant Shadaram Sahib, at Shadani Darbar Hayat Pitafi, Sindh from November 24 to December 4.

On the occasion, Charge d’ Affairs, Saad Ahmad Warraich “wished the pilgrims a rewarding and fulfilling journey,” a press release on Saturday said.

“Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims,” he said.

The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan are bitter adversaries with longstanding political tensions, having fought three wars and numerous smaller skirmishes since they were carved out of the subcontinent’s partition in 1947.

Relations have been particularly sour since 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the limited autonomy of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

The Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan but claimed by both in full, with each accusing the other of stoking militancy there.

But religious visits, exchange of prisoners’ lists and nuclear facilities between the two countries take place under various agreements.

In October, Pakistan and India renewed their agreement to facilitate pilgrimages through the Kartarpur Corridor for another five years.

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The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has made arrangements for the pilgrims, including security, accommodation, and transportation.

Pilgrims would travel to Hayat Pitafi in special buses to perform religious rituals and would also visit other sacred sites, including the historic Sadhu Bela Temple in Sukkur.

The ETPB spokesperson highlighted that all arrangements have been made to ensure the “comfort and safety” of the visiting Hindu pilgrims during their stay in Sindh.