New Delhi: With relations between India and Pakistan on the upswing, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has approached the Centre to ask Islamabad to facilitate pilgrimage of Kashmiri Pundits to a religious place in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

NCM chairman Tralochan Singh requested External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha to take up the case of organising pilgrimage to Sharda temple in Shardi village in Kishanganga valley.

Singh suggested that a token batch of 101 pilgrims from Kashmir valley be allowed to undertake pilgrimage to the temple which was "very sacred and was worshipped by the Hindus for centuries", a release issued by the Commission said.

The chairman said the pilgrimage would strengthen the friendship between the people of Kashmir on both sides of Line of Control (LoC).

The temple is situated at the confluence of Kishanganga and Jhelum rivers.

Singh said according to information available with the Commission, the temple was now in a dilapidated condition and required renovation.