Key Takeaways:
- The Kartarpur Corridor, which allowed Indian Sikh pilgrims visa-free access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, has remained closed since May 2025, blocking visits to the site where Guru Nanak spent his final years.
- On 27 October 2026 the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution urging the Union Government to reopen the corridor, highlighting tensions between provincial demands and New Delhi’s control over the bilateral arrangement.
- The prolonged suspension is framed as a test of India’s commitment to religious freedom and minority rights, with calls for transparent security justifications and diplomatic steps to restore the humanitarian and diplomatic channel.
The continued closure of the Kartarpur Corridor has raised huge questions regarding freedom of religion, minority rights and how the Sikh community are being treated within India. The corridor was set up as a major religious initiative and humanitarian effort to enable Sikh Pilgrims from India to access the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan without needing to go through the usual visa process. However, this has been suspended indefinitely since May 2025 causing issues for thousands of devotees unable to visit one of the holiest sites of Sikhism. This issue has caused great concern in Indian Punjab due to the strong religious and cultural ties between the area and Kartarpur.
The Kartarpur corridor has been hugely significant as the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib is a hugely important site due to Guru Nanak Dev Ji, founder of Sikhism, spending the last years of his life there. This means millions of Sikhs worldwide are able to visit the Gurdwara to celebrate their identity as a Sikh. The corridor was greatly appreciated as it helped to build trust and showed how religion can unite people despite political differences. However, the corridor being closed has caused issues for pilgrims wishing to visit.
The Punjab Assembly passed a resolution on 27th October 2026 demanding the Kartarpur Corridor is reopened. This shows how the elected representatives in Punjab, India are appealing to the Union Government to enable access to the corridor, make the process easier and allow devotees to visit without issues. This shows how concerned people in Punjab are about decisions being made regarding religion within the area without considering the local feelings. The central government should value this as it is an important issue being raised by the Provincial legislature.
However, despite the Punjab Government being directly involved with the Sikh community, the decision regarding the corridor is mainly in the hands of the Union Government. This causes an issue as whilst the Provincial Government can use the democratic system to appeal for their demands, they cannot make the international corridor open. Therefore, this has put extra pressure on New Delhi to explain their reasoning and consider the issues raised. The issue is not just about the central and provincial government, but how the religious concerns of the region are being represented.
The Modi Government’s handling of the corridor has raised questions about how India is portraying itself internationally regarding religious diversity and minority rights. Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and Governments have a duty to protect peoples’ ability to practice their faith. Whilst there may be reasons relating to national security, these decisions should be proportionate, clear and reviewed periodically. There should not be a blanket statement saying security concerns mean access to religion cannot be provided. The central government should explain why they have kept the corridor closed and what conditions must be met for Pilgrims to have access again.
The fact the corridor has been closed for so long has caused issues between the communities on both sides. Kartarpur was seen as a rare example of religious diplomacy between Pakistan and India showing how they can work together despite the political issues. This allowed Pilgrims to visit their religious site and created an opportunity for people to interact. Having the corridor closed for such a long period of time has stopped an important form of communication and undermined the trust the corridor was creating. With current tensions in the region creating huge barriers to working together, the governments should prioritise keeping humanitarian corridors in place.
This issue should not be seen as a political issue between the ruling parties in New Delhi and Punjab. The wishes of the average Sikh regarding religion should be considered. Pilgrims wanting to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib should not be caught up in the political arguments. Their faith and connection to the site have been there long before any political issues and should not be used as a bargaining chip. The resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly gives the Union Government an opportunity to show that they do value democracy and religion.
Pakistan have also stated that the Kartarpur Corridor shows they want to enable Pilgrims to visit their religious site and improve interfaith understanding. Whilst working together, ensuring security and creating trust between the two countries is needed, this issue cannot be solved with political statements. Both sides need to engage with each other through the correct diplomatic channels, review security and create processes to allow Pilgrims to visit safely. Having a clear process could help to address concerns.
Overall, the Kartarpur Corridor remaining closed shows how committed India is to protecting freedom of religion and minority rights. The resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly has highlighted the concerns of the Sikh community and put the pressure on the Union Government to take action. New Delhi should take this positively and explain their reasoning for keeping the corridor closed for so long. Religion should not be sacrificed due to political rivalry. Opening the Kartarpur Corridor would be a positive step to recognising the wishes of the Sikh community, addressing concerns in Punjab and keeping one of the most significant examples of religious diplomacy in the region.
