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2mo ago

SGPC Cancels Sikh Pilgrimage to Pakistan as India-Pakistan Tensions Mount

The SGPC attributes its decision to the suspension of the Shimla Agreement after the Pahalgam terror attack.

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India debarred its citizens from going to Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack. (HT File)
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Overview

  • The committee announced on June 17 that it will not send a jattha to Pakistan for Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death anniversary on June 29, 2025.
  • The committee linked its decision to a diplomatic stand-off sparked by the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s May 7 Operation Sindoor, which led Pakistan to suspend the Shimla Agreement.
  • The 249 passport applications submitted for this year’s trip will be returned to applicants after June 20, the SGPC said.
  • Under the Shimla Agreement, Sikhs are entitled to four annual visits to sites in Pakistan, including Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore where Ranjit Singh’s samadhi is located.
  • In 2024, Pakistan issued 509 visas for the same observance and a 317-member Sikh delegation led by Khushvinder Singh Bhatia attended last year’s ceremonies.