Pakistan recently welcomed over 2,100 Sikh pilgrims from India – marking a historic exchange since their brief conflict in May 2025 – at its border, marking an historic people-to-people exchange. (AP News).
On Tuesday morning, pilgrims began crossing the Wagah Border checkpoint near Lahore and heading for Nankana Sahib in Punjab province for a ten-day festival commemorating Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism.
Arab News.
Pakistani officials welcomed visitors with floral garlands and rose petals, while local media showed images of happy pilgrims waving from buses and vans. RFI reported.
Why this visit is significant
This trip comes after years of heightened tensions between Pakistan and India, most notably following an April attack that India blamed on Pakistan-backed militants; Pakistan denied involvement; diplomatic ties were severed as a result, according to The Guardian (+1).
Due to hostilities in May, Wagah border crossing was closed and both countries imposed travel and visa restrictions. For more details on this topic, refer to Wikipedia.
Pakistan has signaled its willingness to allow cultural and religious exchanges despite unresolved political disputes by permitting this pilgrimage. Pakistani official Nasir Mushtaq stressed the significance of granting visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims as evidence that Pakistan has respect for religious minorities while still committed to building cultural bonds despite ongoing political frictions. AP News (2019, Mar 21st).
Logistics of Pilgrimage Route
The pilgrims began their journey at Wagah and traveled through Punjab province towards Nankana Sahib, which is the birthplace of Guru Nanak and often visited by Sikhs worldwide. (Wikipedia)
These visas were specifically issued for this trip, to cover the entirety of its celebration. Pakistani authorities announced prior to departing that over 2,100 visas would be distributed; for more information, visit trtworld.com
This pilgrimage has traditionally traversed the Kartarpur Corridor and other routes, though border closures and hostilities this year had caused such movements to stop temporarily. Wikipedia
These border closures had both political and diplomatic ramifications for both nations involved, though its impact is less apparent this time around.
Although primarily religious in nature, this pilgrimage carries diplomatic weight. Some analysts interpret its border opening as a symbolic confidence-building measure amid hostilities between two nuclear-armed countries; yet other caution that true improvement in relations will depend on addressing core security and geopolitical concerns rather than single humanitarian gestures.
Indian Sikh organizations applauded Pakistan’s move, as it marked a recognition of our faith’s traditions, according to The Times of India. Pakistan’s commitment to resume crossings may help ease domestic and regional tensions gradually and cautiously, according to experts.
What Lies Ahead In spite of our optimism, many questions still exist that need answering:
Will this religious flow lead to expanded travel, trade, or diplomatic engagement?
Will the border remain open or will further tensions lead to closures?
How will both governments address security concerns regarding cross-border movements given past suspicions?
As pilgrims assemble for their 10-day pilgrimage, organisers and foreign-relations watchers alike will assess if this moment of engagement leads to sustained engagement or remains an isolated respite in a frayed bilateral relationship.
Overall, India’s Sikh pilgrims mark a symbolic return of civic contact between India and Pakistan founded on faith, culture, and community ties. Whether this will serve as a catalyst toward normalisation remains to be seen – or whether it simply provides temporary respite during a frosty diplomatic winter.