Indian Sikh pilgrims visiting Pakistan for the Kartarpur Corridor-related religious journey and the 420th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev Ji have praised Pakistan’s hospitality and called for improved cross-border religious access.
The pilgrims returned to India after attending commemorations that were jointly observed by Sikh devotees from Pakistan and India for the first time in 14 years. The event marked a rare moment of religious unity following the resolution of long-standing scheduling issues.
Speaking at the Wagah border farewell ceremony, Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora said Pakistan remains committed to welcoming Sikh pilgrims with respect, dignity, and full religious freedom.
He added that the visiting pilgrims carried back positive memories of Pakistan’s hospitality and urged renewed efforts to strengthen people-to-people ties between Pakistan and India through religious tourism.
The minister also appealed for the reopening and strengthening of the Kartarpur Corridor, calling it an important bridge for peace and interfaith harmony. The corridor allows visa-free access for Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.
Officials noted that the nearly three-kilometre corridor connects Dera Baba Nanak in India with Narowal in Pakistan and has enabled thousands of pilgrims worldwide to visit sacred Sikh sites without visa restrictions.
The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) stated that Pakistan has made extensive arrangements for accommodation, transport, food, and security for visiting pilgrims and continues efforts to restore historic gurdwaras across the country.
Indian delegation leader Sardar Bhupinder Singh thanked Pakistani authorities for their arrangements, saying pilgrims returned with “cherished memories” and expressed hope for continued religious exchanges.
Pilgrims also said their initial concerns were eased by the warmth they experienced in Pakistan, adding that they never felt like strangers during their visit and hoped for expanded religious tourism in the future.
The visit highlights the continuing importance of the Kartarpur Corridor in fostering religious diplomacy and improving regional understanding between India and Pakistan.
