The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expresses deep concern over the continued closure of the Kartarpur Corridor, which has remained inaccessible to Indian pilgrims since its suspension by the Government of India in May 2025 due to stated security concerns. This historic passage, created to allow visa-free access to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib—one of the holiest Sikh shrines—has long been a symbol of peace, faith, and people-to-people diplomacy between the two nations.
NAPA notes that the corridor has experienced multiple closures in the past, including an extended shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic that lasted until November 2021, and a temporary closure in July 2023 due to flooding in the Ravi River. However, the current suspension has created deep emotional distress among millions of Sikh devotees worldwide who yearn for regular access to this sacred site.
Despite expressions of hope from Pakistani authorities for the corridor’s reopening, no definitive timeline has been announced by either government. The uncertainty has only intensified concerns within the Sikh diaspora.
NAPA strongly urges the Governments of India and Pakistan, especially their respective Foreign Ministers, to take immediate humanitarian and diplomatic steps toward reopening the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor stands not merely as infrastructure—it is a spiritual lifeline for the global Sikh community and a beacon of cooperation in a region often strained by political tensions.
NAPA appeals for swift, cooperative action so that pilgrims may once again walk the blessed path to Gurdwara Sri Darbar Sahib without delay.