Pakistan welcomes Indian Sikh pilgrims in first crossing since May conflict

Pakistan has welcomed Sikh pilgrims from India successful the archetypal large crossing since their deadly struggle successful May closed the onshore borderline betwixt the nuclear-armed neighbours.

More than 2,100 pilgrims were granted visas to be a 10-day festival marking 556 years since the commencement of Guru Nanak, laminitis of the Sikh faith, a determination that was successful enactment with efforts to beforehand “interreligious and intercultural harmony and understanding”, Pakistan’s precocious committee successful New Delhi said past week.

In May, Islamabad and New Delhi engaged successful their worst warring since 1999, leaving much than 70 radical dead. The Wagah-Attari border, the lone progressive onshore crossing betwixt the 2 countries, was closed to wide postulation aft the violence.

On Wednesday, the pilgrims volition stitchery astatine Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak’s birthplace westbound of Lahore, earlier visiting different ineffable sites successful Pakistan, including Kartarpur, wherever the guru is buried.

The Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free way opened successful 2019 to let Indian Sikhs to sojourn the temple without crossing the main border, has remained closed since the conflict.

Four days of struggle erupted successful May aft New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing a deadly onslaught connected tourists successful Indian-administered Kashmir, allegations Pakistan denied.

Sikhism is simply a monotheistic religion founded successful the 15th period successful Punjab, a portion spanning parts of present-day India and Pakistan. While astir Sikhs migrated to India during partition, immoderate of their astir revered places of worship are successful Pakistan.