Sikh pilgrims from India cross into Pakistan, first large movement since Pahalgam attack

Pakistan on Tuesday (November 4, 2025) welcomed a group of Sikh pilgrims from India, AFP reporters observed, marking the first significant crossing since deadly clashes in May led to the closure of the land border between the two nuclear-armed nations.

More than 2,100 pilgrims were granted visas to participate in the 10‑day festival commemorating the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi said last week.

Tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi remain high following the heaviest fighting since 1999 in May, when more than 70 people were killed in missile, drone, and artillery exchanges.

The Wagah‑Attari border — the only functioning land crossing between the countries — has been closed to ordinary travelers since the violence.

On Tuesday morning (November 4, 2025), pilgrims lined up on the Indian side, some balancing their luggage on their heads, while Border Security Force personnel stood nearby.

On the Pakistani side of the Wagah‑Attari border, AFP journalists saw dozens of pilgrims making their way into Pakistan.

They were greeted by Pakistani officials who handed them flowers and scattered rose petals in welcome.

Media reports indicated that around 1,700 pilgrims were expected to cross, though there was no immediate official confirmation.

On Wednesday (November 5, 2025), the devotees will gather at Nankana Sahib — Guru Nanak’s birthplace, about 80 kilometers west of Lahore — before visiting other important religious sites in Pakistan, including Kartarpur, where the guru is buried.

Pakistan’s High Commission stated last week that the decision aligns with its commitment to fostering “interfaith and intercultural harmony and understanding.”

Newspapers reported on Saturday (November 1, 2025) that the Indian government would permit only “selected” groups to make the journey.

The Kartarpur Corridor, a visa‑free route opened in 2019 allowing Sikh pilgrims to reach the shrine without crossing the main border, has remained closed since the conflict began.