Sikh pilgrims enter Pakistan, first major crossing since May conflict

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Sikh pilgrims permission  for Pakistan to be  the commencement  day  celebrations of laminitis  of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, successful  Amritsar, connected  November 4, 2025

Sikh pilgrims permission for Pakistan to be the commencement day celebrations of laminitis of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev, successful Amritsar, connected November 4, 2025 | Photo Credit: PTI

Pakistan connected Tuesday (November 4, 2025) welcomed dozens of Sikh pilgrims from India, AFP journalists saw, successful the archetypal large crossing since deadly clashes successful May closed the onshore borderline betwixt the nuclear-armed neighbours.

More than 2,100 pilgrims were granted visas to be a 10-day festival marking 556th commencement day of Guru Nanak, Pakistan’s High Commission (embassy) successful New Delhi said past week.

Tensions stay precocious betwixt Islamabad and New Delhi aft the worst warring since 1999 took spot successful May, with much than 70 radical killed successful missile, drone and artillery exchanges.

The Wagah-Attari borderline — the lone progressive onshore crossing betwixt the 2 countries — was closed to wide postulation pursuing the violence.

Pilgrims queued up connected the Indian broadside of the borderline connected Tuesday (November 4, 2025) morning, immoderate carrying their luggage connected their heads, arsenic the Border Security Force looked on.

AFP journalists connected the Pakistani broadside of the Wagah-Attari borderline saw dozens of them entering Pakistan.

They were received by Pakistani officials who presented them with flowers and showered them with roseate petals.

Media reported astir 1,700 were owed to transverse into Pakistan, though determination was nary contiguous authoritative confirmation from the authorities.

The pilgrims volition stitchery connected Wednesday (November 5, 2025) astatine Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace astir 80 kms westbound of Lahore by road, and aboriginal sojourn different ineffable sites successful Pakistan, including Kartarpur, wherever the guru is buried.

Pakistan’s High Commission had said past week its determination was accordant with efforts to beforehand “inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding”.

Newspapers reported Saturday (November 1, 2025) that the authorities would let “selected” groups to question to Pakistan.

The Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free way that opened successful 2019 that allows Sikhs to sojourn the temple without crossing the main border, remains closed since the conflict.

The four-day clashes broke retired successful May aft New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing an onslaught targeting tourists successful Pahalgham connected April 22, claims Pakistan denied.

Published - November 04, 2025 02:47 p.m. IST

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