ISLAMABAD: The Sikh community has urged the Indian government to lift the travel ban on pilgrims from visiting Pakistan for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, in November.
In a statement on Thursday, the Vice President of the Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Pakistan) said thousands of Sikh devotees are eager to take part in the week-long celebrations.
However, Sikh devotees from the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and other countries are arriving in Pakistan to participate.
Guru Nanak is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
Meanwhile, the Government of Pakistan has assured the Committee that the Kartarpur Corridor remains open for Indian Sikh pilgrims and that visas will be issued through the High Commission in New Delhi, he added.
Earlier, India declined Pakistan’s invitation for Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, for the death anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, scheduled for September 22.
With the Wagah/Attari border and the Kartarpur Corridor closed, no pilgrims from India were able to attend the event. However, Sikh devotees from the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and other countries were expected to participate in the ceremonies.
Thousands of Sikh pilgrims visit Pakistan each year to commemorate Baisakhi and other religious holidays.
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These visits are facilitated under the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, aimed at fostering religious harmony and cross-border understanding.
India-Pakistan conflict
Tension between India and Pakistan escalated after the April 22 attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India swiftly blamed Pakistan without presenting any credible evidence.
Pakistan condemned the attack and strongly denied the Indian allegations. Pakistan also offered a neutral and transparent international investigation into the incident.
However, New Delhi did not respond to Pakistan’s offer and continued with its aggressive posture.
On the night of May 6-7, India launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan, resulting in civilian casualties.
Pakistan responded firmly and downed five Indian fighter jets and destroyed a brigade headquarters and several military posts. Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week.
On May 10, when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan.
