23 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will remain suspended for Indian pilgrims amid continuing security concerns, the Centre has reiterated, despite repeated appeals from Sikh religious organisations and community representatives for its reopening.
The government has maintained that the prevailing security situation does not permit the resumption of services through the corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan.
Corridor Suspended Since May 2025
The Kartarpur Corridor was suspended on May 7, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent deterioration in India-Pakistan relations.
The Ministry of Home Affairs’ official Kartarpur pilgrimage portal continues to state that services remain suspended until further directions, citing the prevailing security situation.
Centre Responds to Reopening Appeals
The government has acknowledged receiving representations from Sikh religious organisations, MPs and other community representatives seeking an early reopening of the corridor.
Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told Parliament that the existing security scenario continues to require the suspension of the pilgrimage route.
Religious Significance for Sikhs
The corridor provides visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, the historic shrine associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
The site is located in Pakistan’s Narowal district, across the international border from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
The corridor was inaugurated in November 2019 during celebrations marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Agreement Signed in 2019
India and Pakistan signed the agreement governing pilgrim access through the corridor on October 24, 2019.
The arrangement was subsequently extended for another five years in October 2024. The corridor allows pilgrims to make same-day visits to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without obtaining a Pakistani visa.
Recent Calls for Reopening
The demand for reopening has remained active among Sikh organisations and community leaders.
In September, acting Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj led a Sikh delegation to the Zero Line at Dera Baba Nanak to offer prayers seeking the reopening of the corridor. Security personnel on the Indian side prevented the planned prayer at the border, citing security protocols.
Pakistan Says Its Side Remains Open
Pakistan has maintained that its side of the corridor remains open and has called for the pilgrimage route to function separately from political tensions.
Recent religious events near the Zero Line have again highlighted the continuing demand among Sikh devotees for access to Kartarpur Sahib.
A Corridor Used by Thousands of Devotees
Since its inauguration, around 1.3 lakh devotees have used the Kartarpur Corridor, according to the latest report.
For many pilgrims, the route represents an important religious connection because it provides direct access to a major Sikh shrine across the international border.
Security Remains the Government’s Position
The Centre has not announced a reopening date.
For now, the government’s stated position is that the prevailing security situation requires the corridor to remain suspended, while Sikh organisations continue to seek its early restoration.