Kartarpur Corridor pilgrimage shall remain suspended over security concerns: MEA

PTC News Desk: The Ministry of External Affairs doubled down on Tuesday that pilgrimage to Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor continue to remain suspended due to prevailing security situation. 

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks while responding to questions on demands for an increase in the number of pilgrim visas and the reopening of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

The response follows a meeting held between Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee delegation and Pakistan High Commission. The SGPC during the meeting sought an increase in the visa quota for Sikh pilgrims travelling to Pakistan.

"We also have seen some reports about the meeting that you just talked about," Jaiswal said. "Every year, as you know, there is a bilateral arrangement between the two countries under which our jathas, Sikh jathas, visit pilgrimage sites in Pakistan."

The MEA spokesperson while addressing concerns raised by the SGPC and other Sikh organisation regarding opening the pilgrimage said that the corridor remains suspended over security concerns. 

"On the Kartarpur corridor issue, we had recently addressed a question in the Parliament as well," Jaiswal explained. "As you are aware, the Kartarpur corridor services of Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor were suspended with effect from 7th May of 2025 given the extant security situation, which continues to be the case. Kartarpur Sahib corridor services continue to remain suspended."

The SGPC has urged Pakistan to make special arrangements to accommodate a significantly larger number of pilgrims, citing the high number of applications received for the upcoming religious observance.

In its official statement, the SGPC highlighted that "over 7,500 Sikh devotees have submitted their passports to the SGPC office for travel to Pakistan" for the upcoming November 2026 Prakash Gurpurab.