AI Generated Summary
- Meeting at Lahore Hotel Reveals DivisionsSocial media chatter points to an inter-agency meeting held on August 2, 2025, at Hotel Gulbarg in Lahore, attended by representatives from security agencies, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
- Recent posts circulating on social media suggest that Pakistan’s intelligence and security apparatus has finalized plans for the upcoming visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims, or “jathas,” with a dual aim — facilitating religious travel while advancing certain strategic narratives.
- While the security agencies reportedly floated the idea of using anti-India banners and slogans at Gurdwaras, both the ETPB and PSGPC strongly opposed the proposal.
Recent posts circulating on social media suggest that Pakistan’s intelligence and security apparatus has finalized plans for the upcoming visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims, or “jathas,” with a dual aim — facilitating religious travel while advancing certain strategic narratives.
According to these online discussions, all visa applications for the visiting Sikh devotees are to be processed without delay, ensuring a smooth entry via both the Wagah-Attari border and the Kartarpur Corridor. The initiative comes amid heightened sensitivities between the two neighbors, where religious visits often carry political undertones.
Meeting at Lahore Hotel Reveals Divisions
Social media chatter points to an inter-agency meeting held on August 2, 2025, at Hotel Gulbarg in Lahore, attended by representatives from security agencies, the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC). While the security agencies reportedly floated the idea of using anti-India banners and slogans at Gurdwaras, both the ETPB and PSGPC strongly opposed the proposal.
ETPB Additional Secretary (Admin) Sanaullah Khan is said to have warned that politicizing the pilgrimage could lead India to suspend such visits indefinitely — a blow the financially strained boards can ill afford. Social media posts claim the ETPB has already suffered losses of approximately PKR 70 million per month since the Kartarpur Corridor’s closure on May 8, 2025, compounded by the cancellation of two key annual Sikh pilgrimages.
Religious vs. Political Priorities
Khan reportedly stressed in these accounts that religious events must remain apolitical, noting that pilgrim schedules are already closely coordinated with multiple government and security agencies. While affirming that the ETPB would comply with federal directives, he underscored the need to preserve the sanctity of religious gatherings.
These online narratives also highlight his frustration over Baisakhi 2025, when a sudden increase in Indian visas to nearly 7,000 devotees — allegedly decided unilaterally by a security agency — strained resources and created resentment among Pakistani and other foreign pilgrims.
Plans for Messaging Campaigns
Despite resistance, security agencies have reportedly proposed seminars and interactions near the pilgrims’ accommodations to promote narratives of Indian discrimination against Sikhs, the alleged targeting of Gurdwaras in India, and other contentious claims. Social media posts describe a strategy to amplify these messages via Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok during the pilgrimage.
Exploiting Historical Fault Lines
Commentary online suggests that Pakistan may be seeking to tap into historical grievances, perceived economic marginalization, and disinformation to sway segments of the Sikh diaspora. Analysts quoted in these posts see the continued intertwining of religious access with political agendas as a calculated — but risky — approach.
