<span style="color: #222222;">The government today said, some Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities, mainly Hindus and Sikhs, have not returned to their country in recent years because of religious persecution. These pilgrims came to India on a Group Pilgrim Visa. This was stated by Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.<br />''<br />''He informed, around 17 thousand Indian pilgrims have visited Pakistan in the last five years while over two thousand Pakistani pilgrims have visited India. He said, pilgrims visiting between the two countries are covered under Bilateral Protocols on Visit to Religious Shrines, 1974. The Minister said, pilgrimages to 15 shrines in Pakistan and six shrines in India are facilitated under this protocol.</span><br />