Pakistani Sikh jatha returns via Attari-Wagah land route
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs granted special permission for the 49-member group to cross into Pakistan through the Attari Integrated Check Post.
A 49-member Sikh jatha from Pakistan returned home through the Attari-Wagah land route on Wednesday, according to The Tribune. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) granted special permission for the group to cross into Pakistan via the Attari Integrated Check Post following intervention by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).
The devotees, who came from Peshawar, Panja Sahib, Lahore and Nankana Sahib, had originally arrived in New Delhi on October 8. They were scheduled to fly back to Pakistan before their visas expired on November 6, but the land route allowed them to avoid those air travel costs.
Paramjit Singh Chandok, Chief Advisor (NRI Affairs) to the DSGMC, had approached the MHA to request logistical support and permission for the land crossing. The Attari-Wagah crossing has been closed to general and short-term travellers since May 1, 2025, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jatha leader Papinder Singh thanked the Indian and Pakistani governments for enabling the pilgrimage. He noted that being allowed to use the land route made the trip more economical and easier, adding that the group had surrendered their air tickets and hoped for refunds.
During their stay, the group visited several historic shrines, including Gurdwara Sri Hemkund Sahib in Uttarakhand, Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, and various sites in Delhi. Nearly 40 members of the group visited Hemkund Sahib just two days before the shrine closed on October 10.
The pilgrimage previously faced difficulties when a group of 94 pilgrims, including children, was reportedly stopped from boarding a flight from Faisalabad in September due to documentation and ticket issues. The pilgrims eventually purchased new tickets to complete their journey.