Over 2,100 Indian Sikh Pilgrims Cross Into Pakistan for Guru Nanak Festival Amid Tense Relations

In a significant development amid ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, over 2,100 Indian Sikh pilgrims were granted visas by Pakistan to attend the 10-day celebrations marking the 556th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. This marks the first major crossing of the Wagah-Attari border since the military conflict in May and the subsequent closure of the border to general traffic. After initial security-related restrictions by the Indian government, permission was granted following appeals from Sikh religious organizations, allowing nearly 1,800 pilgrims to depart from Amritsar to Pakistan. The pilgrims were warmly received by Pakistani officials with flowers and rose petals and are scheduled to visit key religious sites including Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak's birthplace. This pilgrimage is viewed as a symbol of spiritual unity and peace despite the strained bilateral relations exacerbated by recent cross-border conflicts and terror attacks. The event underscores a rare moment of religious and cultural exchange between the nuclear-armed neighbors, offering a hopeful note amid persistent hostilities.