For Sikhs around the world, the holy sites of Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib in Pakistan hold a deep, almost magnetic pull. These are not just places on a map—they are spiritual anchors, woven into the fabric of Sikh identity. Yet, as the 486th death anniversary and the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev approach in September and November 2025, a fresh dispute over access to these sacred sites has erupted, sending ripples through the Sikh diaspora and igniting a fierce debate on both sides of the India-Pakistan border.
On September 17, 2025, prominent Sikh leaders in Pakistan, joined by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), issued a heartfelt appeal to the Indian government. Their request was simple but profound: let Sikh devotees cross the border and participate in the commemoration of Guru Nanak Dev’s death anniversary at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on September 22. "Our doors remain open for Sikh pilgrims," Ghulam Mohyuddin, ETPB spokesperson, emphasized, according to The Tribune. He added, "We sincerely hope the Indian government allows devotees to travel for this significant occasion."
The backdrop to this plea is tense. After a terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, India closed the Attari-Wagah border, effectively halting the movement of Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan. This closure, along with the suspension of the Kartarpur Corridor—a 4.1-kilometre visa-free passage inaugurated in 2019 to connect Indian Sikhs with their holiest sites—has left thousands of devotees in limbo. The ETPB, responsible for maintaining minority religious shrines in Pakistan, voiced concern that Indian Sikh devotees have been unable to access these revered sites due to the ongoing restrictions.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) and a Punjab minister, underscored the emotional and spiritual significance of the upcoming anniversaries. "This is a moment of deep faith and remembrance. Pilgrims from India must be allowed to join their brethren here," he told The Express Tribune. PSGPC vice president Mahesh Singh echoed the sentiment, urging both governments to facilitate the religious sentiments of Sikh devotees.
But the story doesn’t end at the border. In Punjab, political leaders and Sikh authorities have been vocal in their criticism of the Indian government’s recent decisions. On September 18, 2025, a chorus of voices rose against the Centre’s advisory, which instructed states not to process applications for Sikh jathas (groups of pilgrims) traveling to Nankana Sahib for Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary in November. The advisory, issued on September 12 by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, cited security concerns as the reason for the restriction.
Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism, questioned the logic of the move. "If cricket matches can be played between India and Pakistan, then why can’t Sikh devotees travel to Pakistan for religious purposes?" he asked, as reported by Kashmir Observer. His words struck a chord, especially as India and Pakistan’s cricket teams had recently faced off in the Asia Cup, even if on neutral ground.
The political reaction in Punjab was swift and sharp. Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring called the restriction discriminatory, arguing, "If cricket matches are allowed, then the Sikh jathas should be allowed too. There shouldn’t be double standards. Sikh religious pilgrimages carry sentiments that need to be treated at par with other exchanges." Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann went further, accusing the BJP-led Centre of "targeting Punjab" with the restrictions. "Cricket matches can wait… even films can wait… but faith cannot wait," Mann declared, urging Prime Minister Modi not to "play with the emotions of Punjabis."
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a party with deep roots in Sikh religious politics, also weighed in. President Sukhbir Singh Badal described the move as "hurtful" and appealed directly to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to reconsider. "Sikh devotees have deep religious sentiments attached to visiting Sri Nankana Sahib. The Kartarpur Corridor should be opened," he insisted. The newly formed SAD faction led by Giani Harpreet Singh was even more direct, calling the decision "an open insult to Sikh religious rights and a cruel act" and accusing the Centre of being a "puppet of the agencies."
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, representing Gurdaspur (home to the Indian terminal of the Kartarpur Corridor), put it bluntly in a letter to Shah: "Cricket is a game; pilgrimage is faith." He continued, "I recognise and respect your responsibility for national security. But the correct answer to risk is not a blanket prohibition on faith." Randhawa and other leaders argued that if the government could facilitate the movement of players and officials for sporting events, it could surely manage the regulated, identity-verified passage of peaceful pilgrims for religious purposes.
Yet, the BJP has defended the restrictions, pointing to the volatile security situation. National spokesperson R P Singh argued that the threat perception in Pakistan was real, and asked pointedly who would be responsible if anything happened to Indian pilgrims. Punjab BJP unit chief Sunil Jakhar insisted, "What (PM Narendra) Modi has done for Sikhs perhaps no one else has done. So there is nothing against Sikhs or Punjab in this decision." He conceded, however, that dialogue and alternatives could have been explored.
Meanwhile, across the border, Pakistan has repeatedly stated that its doors remain open. The Government of Pakistan assured that the Kartarpur Corridor is open for Indian Sikh pilgrims and that visas will be issued through the High Commission in New Delhi. The ETPB reiterated its willingness to host Sikh pilgrims "around the clock." Despite this, India declined Pakistan’s invitation for Sikh pilgrims to attend the September 22 death anniversary ceremonies, citing the ongoing closure of the Wagah/Attari border and the Kartarpur Corridor. As a result, no Indian pilgrims were able to attend, though devotees from the US, UK, Europe, and elsewhere planned to participate.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, PSGPC president, condemned the restrictions as a violation of fundamental religious rights. "No community should be deprived of the freedom to perform its religious rituals," he said, promising to raise the matter further in the media.
The current standoff is not just a bureaucratic dispute—it’s a collision of faith, politics, and security. For many Sikhs, the inability to visit Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib feels like a wound. The anniversaries of Guru Nanak Dev are not just dates on a calendar; they are moments of communal remembrance and spiritual renewal. As the debate rages, the question remains: can a way be found to balance security concerns with the unyielding pull of faith?
For now, Sikh pilgrims on both sides of the border are left waiting, their hopes caught between closed gates and open hearts.
