Six years have passed since the Kartarpur Corridor officially opened, a transformative link for Sikh pilgrims. However, its gates have been shut since May 2025, following security directives after Operation Sindoor, leaving a critical spiritual connection severed. While the operational agreement has been extended to 2029, the future of visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib remains shrouded in uncertainty.
The corridor’s inauguration on November 9, 2019, was a landmark event, timed to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It provided Indian pilgrims with a unique visa-free passage to the revered shrine in Kartarpur, Pakistan. The ceremony was graced by a former Prime Minister heading a delegation, underscoring the corridor’s role as a bridge of peace, faith, and unity between the two nations. This project was deeply rooted in the Sikh values of service, peace, and devotion.
The historical context of the corridor is tied to the 1947 Partition, which geographically separated the holy site of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib from India. For over seven decades, Sikhs in India could only view the shrine from a distance, fostering a collective aspiration for direct pilgrimage. This dream began its journey towards reality with discussions in 1999, finally materializing as a symbol of faith-based diplomacy.
The international community recognized the corridor’s profound impact. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described it as a “corridor of hope” during his visit, emphasizing its potential to promote peace and mutual understanding. During its operational phase before early 2020, thousands of devotees experienced the emotional pilgrimage to Darbar Sahib visa-free.
The current prolonged closure, initiated in May 2025, forces pilgrims to revert to the visa application process via the Attari-Wagah border, negating the ease and accessibility the corridor provided. Despite the existing bilateral framework, the resumption of services is not guaranteed. The Kartarpur Corridor, however, continues to symbolize the potent idea that spiritual bonds can transcend political divides, embodying a persistent hope for its eventual reopening and restoration of this sacred journey.