A group of 14 pilgrims aiming to celebrate the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan were reportedly refused entry at the Attari-Wagah border. Officials in Pakistan allegedly turned the individuals away, with reports suggesting the reason given was their Hindu faith and a declaration that they were ‘not Sikh.’ The affected pilgrims, seven from Delhi and seven from Lucknow, had reportedly paid a package fee of ₹13,000 each for their journey, which was not returned after their entry was blocked.
This exclusion comes as a significant number of Sikh devotees were granted permission to travel. The Union Home Ministry had approved around 2,100 individuals for the pilgrimage, and Pakistan had issued corresponding travel documents. By Tuesday, approximately 1,900 pilgrims had successfully crossed into Pakistan via the Wagah border, marking an important instance of bilateral engagement since the ‘Operation Sindoor’ period.
The spiritual leader Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Acting Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, is at the forefront of a Sikh delegation participating in the Gurpurab celebrations. He entered Pakistan on November 4. The primary celebration is set to occur at Gurdwara Janamasthan, located roughly 80 kilometers from Lahore. The delegation’s ten-day visit also includes paying respects at other significant Gurdwaras: Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Sacha Sauda in Farooqabad, and Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, has renewed his appeal for the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor. Speaking to the press after visiting the Golden Temple on Guru Purab, Mann highlighted the need for the corridor to be permanently accessible. He pointed out the current ease of travel for other interactions between India and Pakistan and stressed that the Home and External Affairs Ministries should prioritize its reopening for devotees.