What happened

According to a report by Dawn, Chief Minister of Indian Punjab Bhagwant Mann expressed a strong desire to attend the 4th International Punjabi Conference scheduled to take place in Lahore, Pakistan. Addressing the Indian Punjab assembly, Mann stated that he received an invitation after conversing with Pakistani Punjabi poet Baba Najmi. During his address, which was also posted in a video on his official YouTube account, Mann recited verses by Pakistani Punjabi poet Tajammul Kaleem and emphasized that communities on both sides of the border share identical cultural heritage and similar issues.

Mann openly questioned whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Delhi would authorize his travel to Pakistan, pointing out that federal authorities had previously blocked his trips to France and Japan. In response to his remarks, Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan suggested that Mann take other lawmakers with him if permission is granted, a comment endorsed by several other assembly members. Additionally, Mann called for the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor, a site sacred to the Sikh community.

Key facts

  • The 4th International Punjabi Conference is scheduled for November 27–29 in Lahore.
  • Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann confirmed his invitation and noted that multiple poets from Indian Punjab plan to attend the event.
  • Mann expressed doubt about receiving travel clearance from India's BJP-led central government, referencing earlier travel denials for France and Japan.
  • Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and several members of the assembly supported joining the delegation if clearance is obtained.
  • Mann publicly demanded the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

Why it matters

Official relations and trade between India and Pakistan have been sharply restricted following a four-day armed battle last year. According to BBC reporting cited by Dawn, social media users across both countries responded favorably to Mann’s expressed interest in visiting Lahore, viewing it as a warm gesture amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.

📰 Read the Original Report

Source: Dawn - Home · Published October 25, 2026 · Photo by Mustafa Fatemi on Unsplash