Despite a ceasefire, the Kartarpur Corridor is still closed from India.

Sikh pilgrims and local religious leaders in Pakistan are disappointed that the Kartarpur Corridor is still closed from the Indian side for the sixth day in a row, even though a truce between India and Pakistan has been restored.

The ongoing shutdown has angered local Sikh pilgrims in Shakargarh, Narowal, who have urged New Delhi to keep religion and politics apart.

One pilgrim from the area stated, “We are awaiting the arrival of our Sikh brothers from India.” Allow them to visit the revered Darbar Sahib for darshan. This is not a political place, but one of dedication and calm.

The corridor, which provides visa-free access for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, remains fully operational on the Pakistani side. The administrators of the gurdwara affirmed that they are ready to receive guests on a daily basis.

“From Pakistan, the Kartarpur Corridor is open as usual. We wait for our Indian Sikh brothers every day,” an administrative official stated.

Religious groups and pilgrims in Pakistan have urged Indian authorities to relax the restrictions and for spiritual trips to resume. “The relationship between religion and the sacred shrine needs to be maintained. It is unjust to devotees to hold it hostage to political conflicts,” said another pilgrim.

Citing security concerns amid tensions between the two nations, the Indian government decided on May 7 to temporarily bar Sikh pilgrims from traveling through the Kartarpur Corridor.

Also Read: India bans Sikh pilgrims on the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

The decision was a shock to the hundreds of Sikh devotees who frequently visited the Sikh community’s sacred shrine, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan.

Indian authorities confirmed that the corridor, which had allowed visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to the historic gurdwara since its reopening in 2019, will remain closed until further notice. The closure was announced abruptly, with no specific timeframe provided for its reopening.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounded the scheduled visit of 500 Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan for the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, as India reportedly imposed restrictions on their travel. The move comes ahead of Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary, which is to be observed on June 30.