Six years after its grand inauguration, the Kartarpur Corridor, a beacon of spiritual connection and cross-border unity, remains closed. Suspended in May 2025 due to security concerns following Operation Sindoor, this vital link for Sikh pilgrims has been inaccessible “till further orders.” Despite the bilateral agreement being extended until 2029, the path to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, a sacred site for Sikhs, remains barred, leaving millions yearning for its reopening.
The corridor, opened on November 9, 2019, during the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, fulfilled a long-cherished dream. It offered visa-free access for Indian devotees to the Gurdwara in Pakistan’s Narowal district, a mere four kilometers from the border. The inaugural ceremony itself was historic, with a former Prime Minister leading a delegation across the new passage, underscoring the power of faith to bridge political divides. This initiative was hailed as a powerful demonstration of ‘sewa,’ ‘shanti,’ and ‘shraddha,’ embodying core Sikh values.
The genesis of the Kartarpur Corridor lies in the 1947 Partition, which separated the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji from its Indian counterpart. For decades, devotees could only view the shrine from afar, separated by physical and political barriers. The aspiration for direct access simmered for generations, finally gaining momentum in 1999 and materializing two decades later through determined diplomacy.
Internationally recognized, the corridor was lauded as a “corridor of hope” by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, highlighting its potential to foster peace through faith-based connections. In its brief operational period before the pandemic, thousands of pilgrims experienced profound joy crossing into Pakistan visa-free to visit the revered shrine.
Currently, the indefinite closure since May 2025 necessitates pilgrims to use the Attari-Wagah border and obtain visas, reintroducing the very obstacles the corridor was designed to eliminate. While cooperation agreements are in place, the resumption of pilgrimage is uncertain. Nevertheless, the Kartarpur Corridor continues to be a potent symbol of hope, representing the enduring belief that spirituality can transcend political boundaries, waiting for the day its gates swing open once more.
