Sikh Groups Question Ban on Pilgrimages to Pakistan Amid Cricket Ties

Quick Summary

• The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an advisory directing States to suspend processing applications for Sikh pilgrims planning to visit Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.
• The Kartarpur Sahib cross-border corridor, closed since May due to “security concerns,” also remains shut, and registration websites have suspended applications.
• This decision impacts nearly 1,900 Sikh devotees who had submitted their documents thru the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
• Sikh organisations and political parties are urging the Government to reconsider these restrictions and reopen both Nankana Sahib visits and the Kartarpur Corridor.
• Critics have raised questions about inconsistency; while India-Pakistan cricket matches continue amidst tensions, pilgrimages are restricted.
• Historical precedents show pilgrimages were allowed even during heightened conflict between India and Pakistan.
• Government expenditures on facilitating access to kartarpur Sahib shrines underscore both countries’ past investments in cultural connectivity.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The suspension of pilgrimages has stirred significant concern among Sikh communities due to its impact on religious sentiment tied closely with foundational sites such as Nankana sahib and Kartarpur Sahib.Critics underscore a discrepancy: diplomatic engagement continues in certain avenues like cricket but appears halted for religious exchanges. This inconsistency may inadvertently deepen public grievances or perceptions of selective policy-making. While security risks undoubtedly warrant serious consideration by authorities, long-standing pilgrimage agreements reflect shared obligations that transcend immediate geopolitical dynamics. For India, balancing national security needs with maintaining commitments under cultural diplomacy frameworks is significant-not just for bilateral relations but also for domestic cohesion given ample emotional stakes among its citizens.

Read more: The Hindu