Punjab News: Discussion has intensified regarding the possible visit of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to Pakistan. Pakistan has said that if Bhagwant Mann wants to come to its country, his visa application can be considered. Mann has received an invitation to attend the World Punjabi Conference to be held in Lahore, Pakistan on 27 November. However, their going to Pakistan will not only depend on getting a visa, but it will also require the permission of the Indian government.
What did Pakistan's Foreign Office say?
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan gave the statement on the possible visit of Bhagwant Mann during his weekly media briefing on Friday. He said that if the Punjab Chief Minister wants to come to Pakistan, his visa application will be considered. However, he also clarified that whether the Indian government allows Bhagwant Mann to go to Pakistan or not is a different matter.
After this statement, discussion has started regarding Bhagwant Mann's possible visit to Pakistan. At present, Pakistan has said that only visa will be considered. This does not mean that the Chief Minister's visit has received final approval.
World Punjabi Conference will be held in Lahore on 27th November.
In fact, on October 23, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had told that he has received an invitation to attend the World Punjabi Conference to be held in Lahore. This conference is to be held on 27 November. Referring to this invitation, Mann had raised the question whether he would be allowed to go to Pakistan.
He had said that the culture of India and Pakistan is similar and many poets from Punjab can also go to participate in this conference. This program is being seen as an opportunity to meet people associated with Punjabi literature and culture of both the countries.
Had also expressed desire to go to Kartarpur Sahib
Bhagwant Mann had not only talked about going to Lahore, but he had also expressed his desire to go to Kartarpur Sahib. He had said that if the Kartarpur Corridor opens again, then all the MLAs of the Punjab Assembly should go there for darshan.
The Kartarpur Corridor connects India's Dera Baba Nanak with Pakistan's Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. This Gurudwara is associated with the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Through this corridor, Indian devotees can visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without Pakistani visa and return on the same day.
However, due to increased tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the movement of devotees through this corridor is closed from the Indian side from May 7, 2025.
Pakistan also mentioned the visa of Indian pilgrims
In his conversation, Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan also mentioned the visas issued to Indian pilgrims. He said that Pakistan had issued more than 9,000 visas to Indian Sikh and Hindu devotees in the year 2025. Additionally, more than 4,000 additional visas were granted to Sikh pilgrims in the first half of 2026.
He said that Pakistan is preparing to welcome Sikh pilgrims visiting Nankana Sahib on the occasion of the 557th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji this month.
Now eyes fixed on permission from Government of India
Now the biggest question regarding Bhagwant Mann's visit to Pakistan is whether he will get permission from the Indian government to travel abroad. Pakistan has said that it will consider granting visa from its side, but his visit will not be possible without the approval of the Indian government.
In such a situation, whether Bhagwant Mann will attend the World Punjabi Conference to be held on 27th November or not, it can become clear in the coming days.