The Impressive TimesNew Delhi : In the wake of heightened security concerns following India’s military strikes under Operation Sindoor, the Kartarpur Corridor, a key pilgrimage route connecting India and Pakistan, has been temporarily closed for today, according to official sources. The decision was confirmed to our Jalandhar correspondent by officials monitoring cross-border movement in the region.
The closure comes amid increased vigilance along the Indo-Pak border after Indian Armed Forces conducted precision strikes on nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7. While there has been no official statement linking the corridor’s closure to the operation, security sources suggest the move is precautionary in nature and aims to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Established in 2019, the Kartarpur Corridor allows visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, the revered site where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, spent the final 18 years of his life. The corridor was inaugurated as part of celebrations marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and has since seen thousands of devotees make the spiritual journey across the border.
The corridor, stretching about 4.5 kilometers, originates from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district and leads directly to the shrine in Kartarpur, Pakistan. It is managed jointly by Indian and Pakistani authorities, with strict protocols in place for registration, security, and transport.
Pilgrims and religious organizations have expressed disappointment over the temporary halt in movement, but many have also acknowledged the need for caution in a sensitive cross-border environment. Several travel groups and Sikh committees have issued advisories urging pilgrims to wait for further official communication before planning their visits.
Indian officials have stated that the situation is being closely monitored, and further instructions will be issued soon regarding the resumption of pilgrim traffic.
Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is expected to hold discussions with relevant security and religious bodies to review the situation.
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