‘Why 2013 Pakistan Visa Doesn’t Mention Rawalpindi’: Himanta Questions Gogoi’s Visit To Taxila

Last Updated:February 09, 2026, 15:09 IST

Assam CM questioned if Gaurav Gogoi’s visa permitted travel only to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad then how he travelled to Takshashila in Rawalpindi.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a fresh attack on Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Monday over his travel to Takshashila in Pakistan in 2013. Sarma questioned Gogoi’s silence on the visit, noting that Takshashila lies in Rawalpindi district, outside Islamabad.

According to Sarma, Gogoi’s visa permitted travel only to Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. He asked how Gogoi travelled to Takshashila despite the apparent absence of visa clearance for Rawalpindi.

Serious questions over Gogoi’s Pak visa limits

Sarma said Takshashila is not located in Islamabad but in Rawalpindi district of Punjab. He pointed out that Pakistan’s immigration rules do not allow travel beyond visa-designated cities without specific authorisation.

He said this raised a “simple, factual and legitimate" question about who facilitated Gogoi’s movement to Takshashila. Sarma added that Rawalpindi also houses the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters, describing it as a restricted and high-security district.

“Under Pakistan’s immigration rules, travel beyond visa-designated cities is not permitted without specific authorisation. So the question is simple, factual, and legitimate: Who facilitated his movement to Takshashila despite the apparent absence of visa clearance for Rawalpindi District? This question gains further significance given that Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ)—the nerve centre of the Pakistani military—is also located in Rawalpindi," reads Himanta’s post on X.

He said the circumstances suggested that the visit may have been facilitated through institutional arrangements rather than routine civilian travel permissions.

Reacting to Sarma’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said Gogoi’s statements had raised further questions. He alleged that Gogoi did not give clear answers when questioned about his visit to Taxila and accused him of giving evasive replies.

“Gaurav Gogoi- Pakistani agent is rambling on for last 75 mins but not a single cogent answer. Let’s fact check his lies first. There was no mention of a visit to Taxila in Gaurav Gogoi’s visa application. The visa listed only Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. When an Indian citizen travels to Pakistan, it is mandatory to clearly specify the names of all cities to be visited. Even though Taxila can be accessed from Islamabad, the name of Taxila must be explicitly mentioned on the visa. So how did a visit to Taxila happen without prior declaration or approval—just because “he felt like going?," read Poonawala’s post on X.

SIT findings on Gogoi’s Pakistan visit

Sarma also referred to findings of a Special Investigation Team formed last year to probe his allegations that Gogoi and his wife, Elizabeth Colburn Gogoi, had links with Pakistan and worked against national interests.

He claimed Elizabeth worked in Pakistan from March 18, 2011, to March 17, 2012, and that her family had close ties with Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

Sarma said Gogoi was initially granted permission only to travel to Lahore. However, his itinerary later changed and his movement was tracked across Islamabad and Karachi. He questioned who authorised this change.

Gogoi 2013 visit to Pakistan

Sarma said Gogoi made a visit to Pakistan on December 14, 2013. Gogoi told Assamese media at the time that he went to meet his wife. Sharma alleged that Elizabeth was not in Pakistan then.

He also said Gogoi entered Pakistan by road through the Attari-Wagah border instead of flying. Despite a city-specific visa, Sarma said Gogoi received a visa for Lahore on December 15, 2013, which was later extended by Pakistan’s Interior Ministry to include Karachi and Islamabad.

Gogoi’s response

Gaurav Gogoi on Monday responded by saying police should take suo motu cognisance of the Assam Chief Minister targeting a particular community and sharing social media videos.

He also said he would explore legal measures against the Chief Minister over comments concerning his minor children.

Gogoi stated that his wife visited Pakistan for work-related purposes and that he accompanied her on a 10-day trip in 2013. He added that the SIT never questioned him about this visit.

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