Why India’s Ban on Sikh Pilgrim Jathas to Pakistan Is a Security Measure

The Indian government has decided not to allow Sikh jathas to travel to Pakistan for Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary, a move that has sparked political debate. Officials say the decision is based on security concerns and follows a long pattern where religious visits have been restricted during times of risk. The government maintains the step is not new or unfair but a careful measure to protect citizens while respecting religious sentiments.

Disrupted Journeys in the Past

Sikh visits to shrines in Pakistan have often been stopped since Partition. In 1947, when violence tore the region apart, many important gurdwaras stayed on the Pakistani side. For many years, entry was almost impossible: families were displaced, bridges destroyed, and the border became a hard line. The longing for Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur remained only in prayer.

Later decades brought more breaks in travel:

After the 1965 war, crossings like the Jassar bridge were lost, and pilgrim travel nearly ended.
In June 2019, about 150 pilgrims were held at Attari when India blocked a jatha because of safety worries.
From March 2020 to November 2021, the Kartarpur Corridor, opened in 2019, stayed shut for 20 months due to COVID-19. In May 2025, after Operation Sindoor, the corridor closed suddenly and 150 pilgrims were sent back the same day. In June 2025, India also refused a jatha to Lahore for Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s death anniversary. The record is clear: whenever national safety is at risk, pilgrimages are paused, whatever the depth of faith.

Pakistan’s Role and Propaganda

Pakistan shows itself as a guardian of Sikh shrines, but this is only an image. Its treatment of its own minorities is poor, and visiting jathas have often faced Khalistani propaganda on Pakistani soil. These pilgrimages have become easy chances for Islamabad to trouble India.

Current Security Situation

The latest restriction comes after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, when cross-border violence rose. Sending big groups of civilians into Pakistan now would be unsafe. Comparing this with cricket is wrong: players travel with heavy protection, sometimes at neutral places, but pilgrim groups are scattered and exposed.

Faith and Safety Together

The Sikh community has always stood with the Indian state in hard times. It understands the state’s first duty is to protect lives. Partition itself broke pilgrimages; wars and terror have done the same after that. Today’s step is not against faith but a sign of care. The shrines remain holy, but the safety of people and the country’s sovereignty must come first.