A group of 2,100 Indian Sikh (Jatha) pilgrims crossed into Pakistan via Attari-Wagah on Tuesday, marking the first people-to-people contact between the two countries since Operation Sindoor. The clashes in May closed the land border between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
The pilgrims will gather on Wednesday at Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak's birthplace, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Lahore by road.
They will then visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda Farooqabad, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, before returning to India on November 13.
The Pakistani government granted visas to 2,150 Indian Sikh devotees to attend a 10-day festival marking the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
The Union government has permitted only Indian citizens to participate in the pilgrimage. Palwinder Singh, in charge of the Yatra Vibhag of the SGPC, said that he was unaware of the reasons behind the government’s decision to not allow Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
The Indian government had earlier declined permission for the pilgrimage, citing security concerns following Operation Sindoor. However, the decision was later reversed after appeals from Sikh organisations to allow at least a symbolic Jatha to uphold the long-standing tradition.
Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President and Punjab Minorities Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) chief Sajid Mahmood Chauhan and Additional Secretary Shrines Nasir Mushtaq received the devotees from India at the check post.
Shrimoni Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee delegation led by Gurinder Kaur and Delhi Gurdwara Management Committee's Ravinder Singh Sweeta were among those who crossed into Pakistan.
ETPB spokesperson Ghulam Mohyuddin said that around 2,100 Sikhs arrived in Lahore via Wagah and after completing immigration and customs formalities, the pilgrims departed for Gurdwara Janamasthan, Nankana Sahib, by special buses.
