Editor's Pick: Pakistan forwards a request by Hindu body

Despite a complete freeze in trade and travel between India and Pakistan, a new proposal by the Pakistan Hindu Council to allow Hindu, Muslim and Sikh pilgrims to travel to India, by air on chartered flights operating from Lahore and Karachi, has been forwarded by the government in Islamabad to authorities in New Delhi. According to sources, the proposal was sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), by the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi on behalf of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) chief patron, Ramesh Vankwani, asking that two chartered flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), carrying pilgrims be allowed to fly from Lahore and Karachi to destinations in India this Saturday. According to the programme drawn up, the pilgrims would take a tour to India from January 29 to February 1, including visits to Jaipur, Ajmer, Delhi, Agra and Haridwar. Sources in MEA struck a cautious note, saying that the proposal, which was only received on Monday, had still to receive many clearances in New Delhi. However, with both neighbours having denied overflight permissions in the recent past, Pakistan had denied overflight permission to Srinagar-Sharjah flights that began last November, and India had refused to allow PIA flights to take Indian pilgrims to Pakistan in December, the recent proposal would need a political push on both sides to materialize and break the current deadlock between the two countries. If clearances are received, this would be the first PIA flight to travel to India since operations were suspended in 2019, and the first ever such flight carrying pilgrims from either side since 1947. At present, groups of Indian and Pakistan pilgrims who visit each other's countries under a 1974 protocol exchange agreement, travel by road over Wagah-Atari border. The story is the top lead in the newspaper for the glimmer of hope it holds for the two countries to make a fresh start with faith tourism, a strong draw for India and Pakistan. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click hereThe Hindu's Editorial In conjunction: On evolution of democratic society Not mild for all: On community transmission of Omicron Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz When was the Jana Gana Mana adopted as the National Anthem? 1. January 24, 1950 2. August 15, 1947 3. January 26, 1950 4. August 15, 1949 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here.

Editor's Pick 25 JANUARY 2022

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Pakistan forwards a request by Hindu body Despite a complete freeze in trade and travel between India and Pakistan, a new proposal by the Pakistan Hindu Council to allow Hindu, Muslim and Sikh pilgrims to travel to India, by air on chartered flights operating from Lahore and Karachi, has been forwarded by the government in Islamabad to authorities in New Delhi. According to sources, the proposal was sent to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), by the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi on behalf of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) chief patron, Ramesh Vankwani, asking that two chartered flights of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), carrying pilgrims be allowed to fly from Lahore and Karachi to destinations in India this Saturday. According to the programme drawn up, the pilgrims would take a tour to India from January 29 to February 1, including visits to Jaipur, Ajmer, Delhi, Agra and Haridwar. Sources in MEA struck a cautious note, saying that the proposal, which was only received on Monday, had still to receive many clearances in New Delhi. However, with both neighbours having denied overflight permissions in the recent past, Pakistan had denied overflight permission to Srinagar-Sharjah flights that began last November, and India had refused to allow PIA flights to take Indian pilgrims to Pakistan in December, the recent proposal would need a political push on both sides to materialize and break the current deadlock between the two countries.  If clearances are received, this would be the first PIA flight to travel to India since operations were suspended in 2019, and the first ever such flight carrying pilgrims from either side since 1947. At present, groups of Indian and Pakistan pilgrims who visit each other's countries under a 1974 protocol exchange agreement, travel by road over Wagah-Atari border. The story is the top lead in the newspaper for the glimmer of hope it holds for the two countries to make a fresh start with faith tourism, a strong draw for India and Pakistan. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor's Pick and more. Click here The Hindu's Editorial In conjunction: On evolution of democratic society Not mild for all: On community transmission of Omicron Try out The Hindu's daily news quiz When was the Jana Gana Mana adopted as the National Anthem? 1. January 24, 1950 2. August 15, 1947 3. January 26, 1950 4. August 15, 1949 To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here.

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