Displaying items by tag: Sikh pilgrims

Pakistan’s reception of Sikh pilgrims from India on 4 November marked a rare moment of goodwill amid lingering hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. After deadly border clashes in May shut down the Wagah-Attari crossing, the arrival of over two thousand pilgrims to celebrate Guru Nanak’s 556th birth anniversary signals a cautious reopening of people-to-people ties. Pilgrims were warmly welcomed with flowers and rose petals before travelling to Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace, and other sacred sites. Pakistan’s high commission in New Delhi said that its decision was consistent with efforts to promote ‘inter-religious and inter-cultural harmony and understanding’. For many Sikhs, visiting these shrines represents both spiritual renewal and a poignant reminder of Punjab’s divided heritage since partition. Yet, tensions remain high, with the Kartarpur Corridor (allowing visa-free access to the temple) still closed and both nations trading accusations over recent violence in Kashmir.