Amritsar: A group of 49 Pakistani Sikh pilgrims returned to Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah land border on Wednesday after the Union Home Ministry granted them special permission to use the route. The arrangement followed an intervention by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), helping the pilgrims avoid the additional expense of returning by air.
The pilgrims, who had visited religious sites in Delhi, Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Uttarakhand, crossed into Pakistan through the Integrated Check Post at Attari. They belonged to communities associated with Peshawar, Panja Sahib, Lahore and Nankana Sahib.
Paramjit Singh Chandhok, chief adviser (NRI affairs) to the DSGMC, took up the matter with the Home Ministry and sought the necessary approval and logistical support for their return by road.
Attari-Wagah Route Remains Restricted For Regular Travel
The Attari-Wagah land route has remained closed to ordinary and short-term travellers since May 1, 2025, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Cross-border movement is currently largely restricted to organised religious pilgrimages to designated shrines under the 1974 India-Pakistan Protocol.
The group had arrived in New Delhi on October 8 via the Lahore-Tashkent-Delhi route. With their Indian visas due to expire on November 6, the pilgrims had initially planned to return to Pakistan by air.
Group leader Papinder Singh thanked both governments for facilitating the pilgrimage and the return journey. He said visiting historic Sikh religious sites in India remained a cherished wish for members of the community living in Pakistan and elsewhere.
Pilgrims Also Visit Hemkunt Sahib, Golden Temple
Papinder Singh recalled the group’s visit to Gurdwara Sri Hemkunt Sahib in Uttarakhand, describing it as an unexpected and memorable part of the trip. Around 40 members of the delegation managed to reach the shrine on October 10, just two days before its annual closure. Special permissions and arrangements were facilitated through the Home Ministry.
The pilgrims also attended celebrations at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar marking the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Das Ji.
Singh said permission to use the Attari-Wagah route made their return considerably easier and more affordable. The pilgrims have surrendered their unused return flight tickets and hope to receive refunds.
DSGMC Working To Secure Refunds For Unused Tickets
The group had faced difficulties even before travelling to India. According to reports, although 104 visas had been issued for visits to Delhi, Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Hemkunt Sahib, 94 members of the group, including children, were stopped from boarding their flight from Faisalabad in September due to documentation-related issues and concerns over return tickets. They later arranged fresh tickets to continue with their pilgrimage.
Chandhok said the DSGMC was also working to help the pilgrims obtain refunds for their unused return air tickets.
During their month-long stay, the Pakistani Sikh pilgrims visited several prominent gurdwaras in Delhi, including Bangla Sahib, Rakab Ganj Sahib, Sis Ganj Sahib, Nanak Piao Sahib, Damdama Sahib, Bala Sahib and Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Gurdwara.
Their itinerary also included Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib and Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
The pilgrimage gave members of the group an opportunity to reconnect with their Sikh heritage, visit sacred sites and meet relatives living in India before returning to Pakistan.
