Pakistan Blocks Hindu Pilgrims at Wagah Border While Allowing Sikhs Entry for Guru Nanak Jayanti

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In yet another controversial move, Pakistan denied entry to 12 Hindu pilgrims at the Wagah border on November 4, even as Sikh devotees were allowed to cross for Guru Nanak Jayanti celebrations.

Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims visit Pakistan to pay their respects at sacred shrines related to Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This year, along with the Sikh jatha (group), a small number of Hindu devotees had also planned to participate in the pilgrimage. However, Pakistani authorities permitted only the Sikh members while blocking all Hindus from entering.

Witnesses said the Hindu pilgrims had completed immigration and travel procedures on the Indian side but were stopped by Pakistani officials, who told them:

“You are Hindus, you cannot travel with the Sikh group.”

Delhi resident Amar Chand, who was traveling with four family members, shared with The Times of India:

“We were going to pay respects to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, but the Pakistani officials stopped us at the Wagah border. They said Hindus cannot go with the Sikh pilgrims. They also did not refund the money we had paid for the pilgrimage.”

First Pilgrimage Group After ‘Operation Sindoor’

This was the first pilgrimage after Operation Sindoor, India’s counterterror operation launched in April following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam. After India’s strike on terror camps inside Pakistan, both nations’ military chiefs had agreed to a ceasefire.

Initially, India had denied permission for Sikh groups to visit Pakistan, citing security risks. However, following an appeal by Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the decision, allowing around 2,100 devotees to participate in the pilgrimage.

Intelligence Sources Condemn Pakistan’s Move

An Indian intelligence official condemned Pakistan’s action, saying it was a deliberate attempt to create divisions between Sikh and Hindu communities in India.

“All the Hindus traveling with the Sikh group were ordinary citizens, not political activists. Stopping them after legal clearance is disgraceful,” the officer said.

The official also warned that such discrimination could affect future pilgrimages via the Kartarpur Corridor, where Pakistan already charges Indian pilgrims an entry fee of ₹1,722, despite India’s repeated objections. Pakistani citizens, however, visit the same shrine free of charge.

History of Harassment and Religious Bias

This is not the first time Pakistan has targeted Indian pilgrims. In 2018, an Indian consulate officer accompanying Sikh devotees was harassed and denied entry to the Gurdwaras at Nankana Sahib and Sacha Sauda. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had strongly protested the incident, accusing Pakistan of promoting Khalistani separatism through propaganda banners along pilgrimage routes.

The latest border episode once again exposes Pakistan’s religious intolerance and political opportunism, casting a shadow over what should have been a peaceful religious event.