The Government of India has allowed some groups of Sikh pilgrims to visit Pakistan for celebrations to be held on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. The yatra will be held under the bilateral agreement of 1974 between India and Pakistan, which allows a religious visit to some religious places across the border. Only select batches (groups) will be allowed to travel on the basis of the recommendations of the concerned state governments. These suggestions will be reviewed by the Ministry of External Affairs (Mea) and the final approval will be given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
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This pilgrimage will be done under the structure of the 1974 bilateral protocol on a visit to religious places. However, sources clarified that “a select groups will be allowed as per the recommendation of the state government.” Sources said on the condition of anonymity that the concerned state government would recommend to the Ministry of External Affairs (Mea). Acting on the information of Mea, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will give further approval for the journey.
This step is important because the Government of India prohibited Sikh pilgrims (batches) from Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s visit to Pakistan for the Prakash Parv ceremony of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in November 2025, due to existing security concerns and recent tension between the two countries. According to this decision, Sikh devotees from India will visit Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border and will see the major gurudwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev, including his birthplace Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur.
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These groups will be provided with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in coordination with Pakistan’s Evacui Trust Property Board (ETPB). Every year, thousands of Sikh pilgrims travel across the border on major religious occasions like Prakash Parv, Baisakhi and Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji. The system is part of the 1974 long-term agreement of India-Pakistan, which allows limited pilgrims despite stressful bilateral relations.