On November 4, 2025, a wave of color and emotion swept across the Wagah-Attari border as more than 2,100 Indian Sikh pilgrims were welcomed into Pakistan for the first major crossing since deadly clashes closed the border in May. The pilgrims, draped in vibrant garlands and carrying dreams long held, crossed the only active land crossing between the two nuclear-armed neighbors to commemorate the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the revered founder of Sikhism.
This journey, as reported by multiple news outlets including AFP and ucanews.com, was not just a religious pilgrimage but a poignant symbol of resilience and hope amid the lingering shadow of conflict. The border had been shuttered to general traffic following the worst fighting between India and Pakistan since 1999, a four-day eruption in May that left more than 70 people dead. The violence was sparked by New Delhi’s accusation that Islamabad had backed a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir—an allegation Pakistan has firmly denied.
As the pilgrims made their way across the border, Pakistani officials greeted them with flowers and showers of rose petals, a gesture meant to transcend the political hostilities that have long divided the two nations. Many of the visitors, overwhelmed by the reception, expressed a sense of kinship that defied the lines drawn by history. "We have nothing to do with the war," pilgrim Parvinder Kaur told AFP. "We often watched videos of the shrines and dreamed of coming here, and now, we are finally here for the first time." For Valeti Singh, the experience was equally profound: "It doesn't feel like we are in another country. It feels like we are among our own people. We pray to God that when Pakistanis visit our side, we can reciprocate the same warmth and respect."
The arrival of the pilgrims was the culmination of efforts by Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, which had announced last week that more than 2,100 visas had been granted to Indian Sikhs for the 10-day festival. The move, according to the High Commission, was in line with ongoing efforts to promote "inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding." Nasir Mushtaq, a senior official at Pakistan's religious affairs ministry, echoed this sentiment, telling AFP: "We are welcoming all the Sikh pilgrims arriving from India with greater respect, honor and hospitality than ever before. We want to leave a lasting impression of love, peace and respect with our Sikh guests so they return to India and elsewhere with pleasant memories of Pakistan."
The pilgrims’ itinerary included a gathering on November 5 at Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace west of Lahore, and planned visits to other sacred sites, most notably Kartarpur, where the guru is buried. These sites hold immense spiritual significance for Sikhs worldwide, many of whom trace their faith’s origins to the Punjab region—a land that, following the violent partition of British India in 1947, was split between Hindu-majority India and Muslim-majority Pakistan. While the majority of Sikhs migrated to India during partition, some of their most revered shrines remained in Pakistan, making journeys like this one both a pilgrimage and a homecoming.
Yet, even as the pilgrims rejoiced, the scars of recent conflict were hard to ignore. The Kartarpur Corridor—a visa-free route opened in 2019 to allow Indian Sikhs to visit the temple without crossing the main border—remains closed following the May clashes. The closure has been a source of disappointment for many devotees, as the corridor had been hailed as a rare example of bilateral cooperation and a bridge across decades of mistrust. The reopening of the Wagah-Attari crossing for the festival, however, was seen by many as a tentative step towards healing and dialogue.
The significance of this event was not lost on either side. For Pakistan, the decision to issue visas and facilitate the pilgrimage was an opportunity to showcase its commitment to religious tolerance and hospitality. The country’s religious affairs ministry spared no effort in ensuring that the visitors felt welcomed and safe, hoping that their positive experiences would ripple outward and foster goodwill. For India’s Sikh community, the journey was a long-awaited chance to reconnect with their spiritual heritage and honor Guru Nanak’s legacy at the very places where he lived, taught, and ultimately passed away.
The political backdrop, however, remained tense. The May 2025 conflict had led to the closure of the Wagah-Attari border to all but essential traffic, disrupting not only religious exchanges but also trade and people-to-people contact. The fighting, which lasted four days, was a grim reminder of the fragility of peace in the region. Despite the official denials and counter-accusations, the human cost of the violence was undeniable—and for many watching the pilgrims cross into Pakistan, the hope was that such acts of faith and fellowship could help bridge the divides that politics had deepened.
Sikhism, a monotheistic faith born in the 15th century, has always emphasized the values of unity, compassion, and service. Guru Nanak’s teachings, which stressed the oneness of humanity and the futility of religious divisions, resonated powerfully as pilgrims from India were embraced by their hosts in Pakistan. The shared heritage of Punjab—now bisected by a border but united by history and culture—was on full display as the celebrations unfolded at Nankana Sahib and beyond.
For the pilgrims, the journey was both a fulfillment of spiritual longing and a statement of resilience. After months of uncertainty and the trauma of watching borders close in the wake of violence, the simple act of crossing into Pakistan became a testament to the enduring bonds of faith. As one pilgrim put it, the hope is that these exchanges will pave the way for greater understanding and peace, allowing future generations to visit their sacred sites without fear or hindrance.
As the 10-day festival continues, the eyes of both nations—and indeed, the global Sikh diaspora—are on the pilgrims and their hosts. The warmth, hospitality, and shared prayers offer a rare moment of connection in a region too often defined by its divisions. Whether this spirit of openness will translate into lasting change remains to be seen, but for now, the pilgrims’ journey stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when humanity takes precedence over hostility.
