The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has announced that it has issued over 2,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to attend the upcoming Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations in Pakistan.
The week-long festivities, also known as Gurpurab, are scheduled to take place from 4–13 November 2025 at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and other prominent shrines across the country.
“The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 2,100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birth Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” the High Commission stated on social media platform X.
The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 2100 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the Birth Celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji, to be held in Pakistan from 04-13 November 2025.@ForeignOfficePk@Saadawarraich@epwing_official
— Pakistan High Commission India (@PakinIndia) October 29, 2025
Strengthening Cross-Border Religious Ties
The development comes amid ongoing cooperation between India and Pakistan over the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement, which facilitates cross-border pilgrimages to the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal district.
India and Pakistan signed the agreement on 24 October 2019 for an initial period of five years and recently extended it through diplomatic channels to ensure continued access for Indian devotees.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the extension will help sustain the uninterrupted operation of the corridor, which has become a vital religious and cultural bridge for the Sikh community.
The MEA has also urged Pakistan to reconsider the USD 20 service fee levied on each pilgrim, citing repeated requests from devotees for its removal.
Historical and Religious Significance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor in November 2019, marking a historic moment that allowed the first group of 550 Indian pilgrims—led by former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh—to visit the shrine.
The Gurdwara, one of Sikhism’s holiest sites, had remained closed to Indian pilgrims since the Partition of 1947 and was reopened after restoration work in 1999.
Over the years, Sikh jathas (pilgrim groups) have regularly travelled to Pakistan for key religious events, strengthening people-to-people ties.
However, authorities temporarily suspended the corridor’s operations earlier this year after the Pahalgam terror attacks in April, which heightened security concerns on both sides.
Challenges and Controversies
In recent months, the Pakistani authorities have faced criticism after floodwaters entered the sanctum of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, raising questions over maintenance and preparedness.
Furthermore, intelligence reports have suggested attempts by elements within Pakistan’s security establishment to politicise the Sikh pilgrimages.
A report published in Khalsa Vox cited a meeting allegedly held on 2 August in Lahore, attended by officials from security agencies, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
According to the report, security agencies proposed the use of anti-India banners during the pilgrimages, but both ETPB and PSGPC opposed the idea, warning that such actions could prompt India to suspend visits indefinitely.
The report also highlighted the financial strain faced by Pakistan’s religious boards following the temporary closure of the Kartarpur Corridor on 8 May 2025.
The ETPB is reportedly incurring losses of nearly 70 million Pakistani rupees per month, a situation worsened by the cancellation of two major annual Sikh pilgrimages.
Despite these challenges, the latest visa issuance signals a continued effort to uphold religious exchanges between the two nations.
For thousands of Sikh devotees, the upcoming Gurpurab celebrations in Pakistan remain a spiritual milestone, representing faith, unity, and the enduring hope for peace across borders.
Also Read: Kenya: Light Aircraft Carrying Tourists To Maasai Mara Crashes, Killing 12
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
