Pakistan says willing to issue visa to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for visit

Pakistan has expressed willingness to grant a visa to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for a conference in Lahore, though travel remains subject to Indian government approval. The diplomatic gesture occurs against a backdrop of strained relations and the ongoing closure of the Kartarpur Corridor following 2025 military tensions.
Why it matters
The potential visit highlights the complex intersection of cultural diplomacy and geopolitical friction between India and Pakistan.
Islamabad Pakistan on Friday (November 6, 2026) said it would consider issuing a visa to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann if the Indian politician wished to visit the country. Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan made the remarks during his weekly media briefing in response to a question about the possible visit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. https://www.thehindu.com/topic/aam-aadmi-party/ The Pakistani government would “consider issuing him a visa if he wished to visit the country”, Mr. Khan said, clarifying that whether the Indian government permits Mr. Mann to travel to Pakistan was an entirely separate matter. On October 23, Mr. Mann had said that he had been invited to attend the World Punjabi Conference in Lahore on November 27. However, he questioned whether he would be allowed to travel to Pakistan. “Our culture is the same. Many poets from here will go there,” he had said. Mr.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in