Due to the deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and India, New Delhi has imposed travel restrictions on Sikh pilgrims seeking to visit Pakistan, citing security considerations as the cause. In response to this, leaders within the Sikh community are urging the Indian government to lift the recent travel restrictions that prevent pilgrims from visiting Pakistan to pay respects to Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Sikh community leaders have stated that this ban violates international standards and ethical principles. The appeal comes from Mahesh Singh, the vice-president of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. This committee is the official organization responsible for managing the Sikh religious sites located in Pakistan, where numerous sacred sites of the Sikh faith are situated.
Reasons for the Ban
The Indian government imposed travel restrictions on Sikhs visiting Pakistan for Guru Nanak Jayanti on September 12, citing security concerns. Currently, there has been no immediate response from New Delhi regarding this appeal.
These restrictions further emphasize the ongoing discord between India and Pakistan. The already strained relations between the two countries, which worsened after the Pahalgam incident in May, resulted in diminished diplomatic relations and visa suspensions. Although the United States facilitated a ceasefire, significant travel restrictions continue to exist between both countries.
Pakistan’s Response
Pakistani officials have expressed that, despite the tense environment, they welcome Sikh and other religious pilgrims from India to visit their religious sites within Pakistan, adhering to the present guidelines.
After the partition of British India in 1947, many significant Sikh religious sites ended up in Pakistan, which is why Sikhs residing in India continue to visit them.