Pakistan Open to Visa for Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Pakistan announced on Friday that it is prepared to consider granting a travel visa to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann if he decides to visit the country. This response followed Mann's recent disclosure that he received an invitation to participate in the upcoming World Punjabi Conference scheduled in Lahore later this month. During a weekly media briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan addressed inquiries regarding the potential cross-border trip.

Khan stated that the administration in Islamabad would look favorably upon a visa application from the Aam Aadmi Party leader. However, he emphasized that obtaining permission from the Indian government to cross the border remains an entirely separate procedural matter.

On October 23, Mann publicly acknowledged receiving the invitation for the November 27 event in Lahore, though he voiced uncertainty regarding whether New Delhi would grant him clearance to make the journey. Discussing cultural ties, Mann had previously remarked that cultural roots are shared across the border and noted that several regional poets plan to make the trip.

Discussions on Pakistan and Regional Cultural Events

The Punjab Chief Minister also previously expressed an interest in leading all members of the state legislative assembly to Kartarpur Sahib if the corresponding border crossing reopens. The Kartarpur Corridor links Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, serving as a site tied to Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev. The arrangement permits Indian devotees to travel to the shrine and return on the same day under designated travel rules.

Nevertheless, the crossing has stayed closed to pilgrim traffic from the Indian side since May 7, 2025. This suspension began after Indian forces executed strikes on multiple targets within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir during Operation Sindoor, which followed a terror attack in Pahalgam.

Despite the ongoing closure of the direct corridor, the Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated Islamabad's commitment to facilitating religious travelers once existing travel limitations are lifted. Khan noted that Pakistan issued thousands of permits to Indian devotees from various faiths throughout the year and highlighted upcoming celebrations for the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Nankana Sahib.

Pakistan said it would consider issuing Bhagwant Mann a visa for a Lahore conference.

Why it matters

The willingness of Pakistan to consider a visa for a high-ranking regional official like Bhagwant Mann highlights ongoing diplomatic stances regarding cultural and religious exchanges between neighboring regions. While the decision primarily concerns individual travel permissions and potential attendance at the Lahore conference, it touches upon broader border mobility and pilgrimage frameworks that affect travelers and leaders across South Asia.

For readers in India and the region, the development sheds light on official positions surrounding cross-border cultural events and the status of religious travel corridors. Because the proposed visit depends entirely on clearance from the Indian government, the situation underscores how regional political dynamics continue to shape interactions between the two countries.