LAHORE: First people-to-people contact between Pakistan and India was made on Tuesday about six months after the four-day Pak-India armed conflict in May as over 2,000 Indian Sikhs entered Pakistan via Wagah border to take part in the festivities related to the 556th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev.

Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) head and Punjab Minorities Minister Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, Additional Secretary (Shrines) Nasir Mushtaq and other officials received the Indian pilgrims at the Wagah check post.

Tensions remain high between New Delhi and Islamabad after deadly clashes in May, following the Pahalgam terror attack. Both countries took several measures in April and May 2025 that led to a significant downgrading of relations and many of these remain in place despite a ceasefire. India issued no visas to Hindu and Sikh pilgrims to attend different events in Pakistan during the last six months. However, on the pressure of the Sikh community, the Modi government finally allowed ‘selected’ groups to travel for a 10-day festival to celebrate the birth anniversary of the founder of Sikh faith in Pakistan. Subsequently, the Pakistan government issued visas to 2,150 Indian Sikhs to attend Baba Guru Nanak’s birthday anniversary.

The ETPB and PSGPC arranged a grand welcome reception for the visiting Sikhs. Talking to reporters at Wagah, Akal Takht leader Kaldeep Singh Gargaj said the Sikh pilgrims were very happy to come to Pakistan.

Over 2,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims enter Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary celebrations

“Pakistanis always treated Sikh pilgrims with great respect,” he said.

Group leader Ravinder Singh from the Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee also thanked the government for issuing visas and said that Pakistan was the land of their Gurus and was deeply cherished by the Sikh community. They urged both the governments to lift visa restrictions so that the people from both sides could visit their holy places without any hurdle.

Additional Secretary (Shrines) Nasir Mushtaq said foolproof security arrangements had been made for the Indian guests.

“Teams from the ETPB, district representatives and the PSGPC are dedicated to serving the pilgrims. Transport and other facilities are being provided, along with medical desks, while Rescue 1122 teams and medical staff will accompany the bus convoys,” he said and added that all major gurdwaras in Punjab, including the Janamasthan and Kartarpur Sahib, had been beautifully decorated with lights.

At Wagah border, the Sikh pilgrims exchanged currency, received bus tickets and were issued computerised identity cards by the ETPB. The main ceremony of Baba Guru Nanak birth anniversary will be held on Wednesday (today) at Gurdwara Janamasthan at Nankana Sahib. A large number of Sikhs coming from other countries and within Pakistan will perform their religious rituals.

A special ‘Palki Sahib’ procession will also be taken out according to the Sikh customs, which will pass through its designated routes.

ETPB spokesperson Ghulam Mohyuddin said around 2,000 Sikhs arrived in Lahore via Wagah. He said after completing immigration and customs formalities, the pilgrims departed for Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, by special buses. During their 10-day stay, he said the Indian Sikhs would also visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib, Hassanabdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, Farooqabad, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur. On Nov 13, the Sikh pilgrims will return to their homeland.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2025