India has indefinitely suspended the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor amid escalating tensions with Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the closure citing security concerns due to repeated ceasefire violations and the ongoing standoff between the two countries.
The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing connecting Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan. It allows Sikh pilgrims to visit this sacred site without a visa, symbolizing peace and religious harmony.
Following India's retaliatory missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, the Indian government decided to halt all pilgrim movement through the corridor. On May 7, about 150 Sikh pilgrims were turned back at the Indian check post after waiting for over 90 minutes.
While India has closed its side indefinitely, Pakistan continues to keep the corridor open as a goodwill gesture, welcoming pilgrims from its side. The Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee expressed disappointment but reaffirmed their commitment to peace and harmony.
This suspension marks a significant setback for cross-border religious diplomacy amid the worsening diplomatic crisis. The corridor's closure reflects the fragile nature of peace initiatives between India and Pakistan, with Sikh devotees caught in the middle of geopolitical tensions.
As the situation develops, the future of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor remains uncertain, highlighting the broader impact of the India-Pakistan standoff on people-to-people ties and religious freedoms.
