WAGAH – Pakistan on Tuesday received dozens of Sikh pilgrims from India in the first major cross-border movement since the May conflict that led to the closure of the Wagah-Attari border, officials and media reports said.
The pilgrims, who arrived to attend the 556th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, were welcomed by Pakistani officials with flowers and rose petals at the Wagah border crossing. The event marks the resumption of religious travel between the two countries following months of heightened tensions.
Today, on the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, I am inspired to share his timeless philosophy, universal in its depth, and more relevant than ever in our world.
“There is but One God, who resides in all. Let us look beyond labels of religion, for true humanity… pic.twitter.com/IbO7fKCmrS
— Sukh Sandhu (@SukhSandhu) November 4, 2025
According to Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, more than 2,100 Indian Sikhs were granted visas for the 10-day festival. Indian media reported that around 1,700 pilgrims were expected to cross into Pakistan on Tuesday.
The visiting devotees will gather in Nankana Sahib — Guru Nanak’s birthplace, located around 80 kilometres from Lahore — before visiting other sacred sites, including Kartarpur, where the Sikh founder is buried.
Pakistan’s High Commission had said last week its decision to allow Sikh pilgrims was consistent with efforts to promote “inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding”.https://t.co/AriFVNTAjR
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 4, 2025
The border reopening for pilgrims comes amid strained relations between Islamabad and New Delhi after deadly clashes in May, described as the most serious confrontation since 1999. The conflict erupted following an attack on tourists in India-occupied Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan — a claim Islamabad strongly rejected.
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The Kartarpur Corridor, a separate visa-free route opened in 2019 to facilitate Sikh pilgrims, remains closed since the May hostilities.
In a statement last week, Pakistan’s High Commission said the decision to issue visas reflected Islamabad’s commitment to fostering “inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding.”
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