Chicago – September 17, 2025
Sikh community leaders have strongly urged the Indian government to lift its recently imposed ban on pilgrims traveling to Pakistan to visit the historic shrine of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
The ban, announced by New Delhi on September 12, cited so-called security concerns as the main reason for denying permission to Sikh devotees for the upcoming birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak.
Mahesh Singh, Vice President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), which manages Sikh shrines in Pakistan, condemned the ban as a violation of religious freedom and international norms. He emphasized that Pakistan continues to welcome Indian Sikh pilgrims and has assured that visas will be granted through its high commission in New Delhi.
The Kartarpur Sahib shrine, located near the India-Pakistan border in Pakistan’s Punjab province, is a highly revered site and the Kartarpur Corridor enables visa-free travel for Indian Sikhs.
Despite recent flooding damage, Pakistani authorities are preparing to host a record number of pilgrims for the 556th birth anniversary celebrations in November.
Sikh leaders also highlighted the inconsistency of allowing sports events between India and Pakistan while restricting religious pilgrimages, calling for the ban to be reconsidered in the spirit of peace and religious harmony.
