Amritsar: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sep 1, 2004) said the issue of providing access to Indian pilgrims to visit Sikh shrines and other holy places in Pakistan would be taken up with the neighbouring country during forthcoming bilateral talks.

Referring to the demand raised by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and former Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal for "opening of the borders for the visit to Kartarpur, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev, which is close to Amritsar," the Prime Minister said the issue would be raised during the forthcoming talks.

"I know every Sikh at the day break prays about visiting Nankana Sahab at Kartarpur. I can assure that at the future talks the issue will be taken up and the Government will stress that easy access be allowed to Sikhs and other shrines in Pakistan," Singh said addressing a function in Amritsar in connection with the 400th anniversary celebrations of Guru Granth Sahab.