Chandigarh: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has urged the Government of India to reconsider its decision to keep the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor closed indefinitely, saying that the religious sentiments and long-standing aspirations of millions of Sikh devotees must be given serious consideration alongside legitimate national security concerns. In a statement issued today, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said the Union Government’s decision to continue the suspension of the corridor is deeply disappointing for Sikh pilgrims across India and the global Punjabi and Sikh diaspora.
“The security concerns of the Government of India cannot and should not be ignored. National security must remain paramount. However, keeping the Kartarpur Corridor closed indefinitely cannot become the permanent solution. The government should explore every possible security, technological and diplomatic mechanism to facilitate the reopening of this historic pilgrimage route,” Chahal said. Security concerns must be addressed, but Sikh pilgrims should not be denied access to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib indefinitely, he added. The Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will continue to remain suspended, citing the prevailing security situation following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said the “extant security scenario compels” the corridor to remain closed. The government also acknowledged receiving representations from Sikh religious organisations seeking its reopening.
Chahal said the corridor is not merely a road or a diplomatic facility but represents an extraordinary religious connection for Sikhs around the world. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, holds a unique place in Sikh history because Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the final years of his life at Kartarpur Sahib.“Millions of Sikhs had waited for decades for visa-free access to Kartarpur Sahib. The opening of the corridor in 2019 was welcomed across the world as a historic humanitarian and religious initiative. It should not be allowed to become another casualty of continuing tensions between India and Pakistan,” Chahal said.The corridor was suspended on May 7, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent deterioration in India-Pakistan relations. The Ministry of Home Affairs currently states that services remain suspended “till further directions” considering the prevailing security situation.NAPA said that the Government of India has every right to impose temporary restrictions when there is a credible security threat, but it should simultaneously work on a roadmap for reopening the pilgrimage route once adequate safeguards are established.
“Instead of an open-ended closure, the Union Government should establish a clear security review mechanism. If necessary, pilgrim numbers can initially be restricted, advance verification can be strengthened, biometric screening can be expanded, movement can be closely monitored and additional security personnel can be deployed. Modern surveillance and intelligence technologies can also be used to ensure that the corridor is not misused,” Chahal said.He further urged the Centre to engage with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Sikh religious institutions, Punjab Government, security agencies and representatives of the Sikh diaspora to develop a comprehensive framework for the safe resumption of pilgrimage.
The SGPC has already approached Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the reopening of the corridor, while the Shiromani Akali Dal has also urged the Centre to restore the pilgrimage link.Chahal said the Sikh community understands the seriousness of terrorism and has no sympathy whatsoever for forces that threaten India’s security.“The Sikh community has always stood against terrorism and violence. Nobody should interpret the demand for reopening Kartarpur Sahib as compromising India’s national security. We are asking the government to find a way to protect both national security and the religious rights and sentiments of Sikh devotees,” he said.
He also cautioned that prolonged closure could deepen disappointment among the Sikh community, particularly among elderly devotees and those who had hoped to visit the historic shrine after the corridor was opened.“Many elderly Sikhs had dreamed of seeing Kartarpur Sahib without the traditional visa restrictions. For them, this is not a political issue. It is a matter of faith, history and an emotional connection with Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s final resting place,” Chahal said.NAPA called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Government to reassess the situation at the earliest and initiate consultations on a phased reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor, subject to stringent security safeguards.
“India can protect its borders and national security while also protecting the religious aspirations of its citizens. The two objectives do not have to be contradictory. We strongly urge the Union Government to reconsider its decision and find a secure, practical and dignified way to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor,” Chahal said.North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) said it would continue to raise the issue with Indian authorities and international representatives until a satisfactory solution is found for Sikh pilgrims.