ISLAMABAD: The first batch of Pakistani Hajj pilgrims who arrived in Madinah under the Kingdom’s Makkah Route Initiative on Wednesday praised its “remarkably smooth” immigration process, thanking the Saudi government for the facility.
The Makkah Route Initiative is designed to streamline immigration processes by enabling pilgrims to complete official travel formalities at their departure airports. Initially tested in Islamabad in 2019, the program was later expanded to Karachi, benefitting tens of thousands of Pakistani travelers. This saves pilgrims several hours upon arrival in the Kingdom, as they can simply enter the country without having to go through immigration again.
Pakistan kicked off its pre-Hajj flight operations on Tuesday, with the first batch of 900 Pakistani pilgrims arriving in Madinah from Islamabad, Karachi and other cities. Those who arrived from Karachi and Islamabad praised the Makkah Route Initiative for making their travel hassle-free.
“It was remarkably smooth as the Saudi immigration process was completed at Islamabad Airport without the need to wait in long queues,” Tariq Khan, a resident of Pakistan’s northwestern Swabi city, told Arab News over the phone from Madinah.
Around 50,500 Pakistani pilgrims in total from Islamabad and Karachi will travel to Saudi Arabia under the Makkah Route Initiative this year.
Khan, who is performing Hajj for the second time since 2016, said the pre-departure immigration process had saved pilgrims’ considerable time.
“The difference was [like] night and day,” Khan, comparing his Hajj journey in 2016 to the present one.
“This time, the process was efficient and stress-free, allowing us to focus on the spiritual aspects of our journey.”

Upon landing, Khan said pilgrims bypassed the usual immigration queues while buses were waiting to transport them directly to the hotel.
“Our luggage, which had been tagged and processed in Islamabad, arrived at the hotel shortly after we did,” he noted.
Shamim Akhtar, who arrived from Karachi, described the immigration process as “exceptionally well-organized.”
“Dedicated immigration counters at Karachi Airport handled all formalities efficiently and the staff was courteous,” she told Arab News.
“And the entire process was completed swiftly, allowing us to reach the boarding lounge without hassle.”
She thanked the Saudi government for extending the service to Karachi, saying the Makkah Route Initiative significantly reduced the stress and time associated with international traveling during Hajj.

“It’s a commendable effort that enhances the overall pilgrimage experience,” she said.
‘EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS’
Osama Anwar, an information technology professional from Pakistan’s eastern city of Rawalpindi, praised the entire Hajj process from submitting the application to the mandatory trainings organized by the government, and the “smooth” travel facilitated under the Makkah Route Initiative.
“Under the Route to Makkah, arrangements were very good and it was a very smooth process at the airport,” he said. 
“It hardly took us just 20 to 25 minutes to reach the hotel from the airport in Saudi Arabia.”
He said pilgrims had been guided thoroughly about the process.
 “Now that we have arrived in Madinah, we found that excellent arrangements have also been made here including good rooms and food arrangements,” Anwar said.
This year’s annual pilgrimage will take place in June, with nearly 89,000 Pakistanis expected to travel to Saudi Arabia under the government scheme and over 23,620 Pakistanis expected to perform Hajj through private tour operators.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday urged US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to impress upon New Delhi to “act responsibly” amid fears of a military confrontation breaking out between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan. 

Tensions have surged between the two countries following a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir on Apr. 22 that New Delhi has said Pakistan was involved in. Islamabad denies the charges and has said it will participate in any credible and transparent investigation of the assault. 

Several countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, UK, US and others have called upon both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid a military confrontation. Pakistan has vowed to give a “strong” response to any aggression after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the military freedom to respond to the Kashmir attack during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. 

Sharif received a call from Rubio during which he offered the American official Pakistan’s perspective on the recent developments after the Apr. 22 attack, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. 

“He [Sharif] categorically rejected Indian attempts to link Pakistan to the incident and pointed to his call for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation to bring out the facts,” the PMO said. 

“He urged the US to impress upon India to dial down the rhetoric and act responsibly.”

Sharif condemned “terrorism” in all its forms and manifestations and underscored Pakistan’s leading role in the “war against terror,” the statement said. 

He described India’s recent behavior as “deeply disappointing and worrisome,” saying it would only serve to distract Pakistan from its ongoing efforts to defeat militants, particularly those based in Afghanistan. 

India and Pakistan have fought two out of three wars since 1947 over the issue of the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir. Both countries claim Kashmir in full but administer only parts of it. 

“The Prime Minister emphasized that peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute was the only way to ensure lasting peace in South Asia,” the PMO said. 

On bilateral cooperation, Sharif told Rubio there were several areas where both sides could cooperate. He cited counterterrorism and enhanced economic cooperation, “particularly the minerals sector.”

“Secretary of State Rubio thanked the Prime Minister for the detailed conversation and emphasized the need for both sides to continue working together for peace and stability in South Asia,” the statement said. 

Earlier on Wednesday, fears of a military conflict were reignited when the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV) reported India had carried out “unprovoked” firing in the Kayani and Mandal sectors of the Line of Control on Tuesday night. 
The LoC runs 742km (460 miles) dividing the parts of Kashmir governed by India and Pakistan, and acts as part of the de facto border between the two countries.
Small arms were used by the Indian forces, prompting Pakistan to respond, PTV said.
“There are also reports that multiple enemy posts were destroyed by the Pakistan Army’s effective response,” PTV said, naming one of them as the Chakpathra post.
Earlier on Wednesday, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported that a “timely” response by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had “forced” four Indian Rafale jets to retreat after payrolling near the two nations’ de facto border. 
“On the night of April 29/30, four Indian Rafale jets conducted patrolling within Indian geographical boundaries” near the LoC, APP reported, saying PAF “immediately” detected the jets. 
“A timely and swift response by the Pakistan Air Force forced four Indian Rafale jets to retreat … The Pakistani armed forces remain fully prepared and alert to give a befitting response to any aggression from India.”