May 20, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
In the wake of rising tension between India and Pakistan, the Indian government has unilaterally suspended the Kartarpur Corridor on May 7, barring Sikh pilgrims from crossing into Pakistan to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak. Despite the suspension from India’s side, Pakistan has kept its end of the corridor open, continuing to facilitate access to the sacred site.
The closure has sparked dismay and criticism from Sikh community leaders, religious scholars, journalists, and officials, who are calling for the immediate reopening of the corridor on humanitarian and religious grounds.
Corridor’s Closure: A Blow to Religious Freedom
According to reports, the Kartarpur Corridor has remained closed from the Indian side since May 7. Head Granthi of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Sardar Gobind Singh, voiced his concern over India barring its citizens from performing pilgrimage to the holy Sikh site.
“Pakistan is waiting for its Sikh brothers,” he said, appealing directly to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to allow access of Indian Sikh pilgrims to the Kartarpur corridor. “India should keep politics separate from religion. Even during the World Wars, pilgrimage to religious sites were not suspended for anyone,” he added.
The corridor, inaugurated on November 9, 2019, and renewed in October 2024 for another five years, was a landmark agreement between India and Pakistan that allowed visa-free access for Sikh pilgrims. Connecting Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, the corridor has been symbolic of cross-border peace and religious harmony.
Religious Sentiment vs Political Strategy
Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia, a US-based Sikh scholar, believes the corridor’s suspension is part of a broader political and media conflict between India and Pakistan.
“This conflict has now moved from active warfare to a media narrative war,” he told Voicepk. “Each side is accusing the other of firing missiles and drones at Sikh places of worship across the border. This needs to be taken with a grain of salt.”
Butalia asserted that the BJP-led central government in India had reluctantly agreed to open the corridor in 2019 to gain political mileage in Punjab during the elections—an effort that ultimately failed.
“India’s central BJP led government had agreed reluctantly to opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor hoping it would give them an edge over other political parties in the 2019 elections. However the BJP suffered a huge defeat in Punjab and hence the government at the central level started to backpedal on its commitment for the corridor,” he explained. “Applying for Kartarpur visits became burdensome, including home visits by police, discouraging pilgrims. In my opinion, the Indian government may have been looking for an excuse to shut down the corridor and found one in the Pahalgam attack.”
While Butalia is pessimistic about the corridor reopening soon, he noted that diaspora Sikhs around the world still enjoy direct access to Kartarpur.
Shared Heritage, Divided Access
In a previously published piece, Dr. Tarunjit Singh Butalia underscores the deep historical and spiritual connection the Sikh faith holds with present-day Pakistan. He explains that Sikhism was founded by Sri Guru Nanak Sahib, who was born in 1469 in Nankana Sahib—now part of Pakistan. Guru Nanak spent most of his life in this region, undertaking several spiritual journeys both east and west, before eventually settling in Kartarpur Sahib, where he passed away in 1539. He was succeeded by nine other Sikh Gurus, many of whom traveled extensively across South Asia. The Fifth Guru, Siri Guru Arjan Sahib, established the Darbar Sahib—commonly known as the Golden Temple—in Amritsar during the late 16th century.
Butalia further explains that the 1947 partition of South Asia resulted in the creation of two new nations: an Islamic-majority Pakistan and a Hindu-majority India. During this time, most Sikhs migrated from Pakistan to India, leaving behind over 250 historic Sikh shrines, including the most sacred sites at Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib. Meanwhile, Amritsar, the seat of Sikh spiritual and political life, became part of India. This geopolitical division split Sikh heritage and sacred geography across two borders. For over 75 years, Sikhs in India have faced restricted access to these religious sites located in Pakistan, while diaspora Sikhs from Western countries have generally enjoyed comparatively freer access.
Number of pilgrims go down
Speaking to Voicepk, Shiv Inder Singh, editor-in-chief of Suhi Saver said that Kartarpur’s closure has deepened the anxieties of Indian Sikhs. “People in India, especially the Sikhs, are deeply concerned. Kartarpur holds immense religious significance—it’s one of the most sacred sites in our faith.”
Singh said that prior to the recent hostilities, for example, if around 500 pilgrims visited daily, the number dropped down to under 100, before the corridor was finally fully sealed.
“Local Sikhs also want access to other historic gurdwaras in Pakistan. These places are integral to our spiritual life,” he added.
According to the Indian authorities, the corridor saw 10,025 devotees in 2021, increasing significantly to 86,097 in 2022 and 96,555 in 2023, highlighting its growing significance for Sikh pilgrims before the recent suspension.
Singh emphasizes that the suspension is not just a religious matter but a cultural rupture. “Punjab, on both sides of the border, is bound by a shared cultural heritage and the spirit of Punjabiat. Even during times of conflict, the people—labourers, students, farmers—have always advocated for peace.” He warns against the weaponization of faith.
“It is troubling that both governments are dragging religion—particularly minority faiths—into political games. This is a dangerous shift.”
Despite media polarization, Singh observes that the Sikh community has shown remarkable restraint. “There hasn’t been an aggressive reaction, mostly because people are aware that narratives are being shaped on both sides. It’s viewed as another instance of the two states discrediting each other.”
Community disappointment on both sides
Meanwhile Harmeet Singh, a Pakistani Sikh journalist, described the growing disappointment among local Sikhs over India’s actions:
“The Kartarpur Corridor is a spiritual gift from Pakistan to the Sikh community. After Partition, our ardas—our collective prayer—always included a longing to return. The corridor was a dream come true.”
Harmeet stressed that the corridor closure, especially ahead of key religious events, is heartbreaking. “Sikhs in India are deeply hurt, and here in Pakistan, not only Sikhs but even Muslims look forward to welcoming yatris. This is deeply wounding.”
He reminded that under the 1974 India-Pakistan agreement, Sikhs have the right to access their religious sites—even during conflict.
“We should not be caught in the crossfire of political disputes,” he said. “Sikhs are emotional and courageous, but also wise. Many now understand that our faith and rights should not be collateral in a political narrative war.”
Pakistan urges India to reopen corridor
Ramesh Singh Arora, Punjab Minister for Minorities Affairs and Ambassador-at-Large for the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, condemned India’s decision, calling it a direct violation of religious freedom. “We urge the Indian government to immediately reopen the Kartarpur Corridor. This is our fundamental religious right. For decades, we prayed for access to Kartarpur Sahib—its closure is an attack on our religious liberties.”
Arora drew comparisons with other conflicts where religious sites remained untouched. “Even during the Iran-Iraq war, religious sites were not targeted. There must be some sanctity left, even in times of conflict.”
He emphasized the corridor’s peace-building potential.
“The Kartarpur Corridor was a milestone—it brought people closer spiritually and diplomatically. We appeal to Prime Minister Modi’s government to uphold this spirit.” Despite the present standoff, Arora remains hopeful.
“I still believe the Kartarpur Corridor will reopen soon.” He also pointed to the broader implications of sustained conflict.
“Both countries must realize war is never the answer. We condemned the Pahalgam attack and called for a neutral investigation. But we must prioritize our people. Poverty is rampant, and people are migrating abroad in desperate conditions. We should invest in human development, not weapons.”
The closure of the Kartarpur Corridor from the Indian side serves as a stark reminder of how political hostilities can override deeply rooted spiritual and cultural ties. While the Pakistani government has kept its side of the corridor open, India’s unilateral suspension has left thousands of devotees in limbo. For Sikhs, Kartarpur is not just a pilgrimage site—it is a sacred connection to their history, identity, and faith. As calls for reopening the corridor grow louder, the hope remains that political leadership will rise above conflict and honor the shared values of religious freedom, cultural respect, and human dignity. The reopening of Kartarpur from the Indian side is not just a religious necessity—it is a moral imperative and a critical step toward regional peace.