AI Generated Summary
- In a notable gesture, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) organized a symbolic welcome ceremony on June 9 for Indian Sikh pilgrims at the Wagah border—despite the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah.
- By facilitating travel exclusively for Sikh pilgrims while maintaining restrictions on other Indian visitors, Pakistan appears to be cultivating the narrative that the Sikh community represents a distinct national identity—an attempt to exploit religious fault lines and promote separatist sentiment, particularly in the sensitive border state of Punjab.
- In what analysts describe as a calculated move, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to court the Sikh community—both within India and among the global diaspora—under the guise of religious diplomacy.
In what analysts describe as a calculated move, Pakistan has intensified its efforts to court the Sikh community—both within India and among the global diaspora—under the guise of religious diplomacy. While the overt gestures appear rooted in goodwill and cultural connection, a closer examination reveals a deeper strategy aimed at sowing discord and pushing a divisive narrative.
In recent months, Islamabad has escalated initiatives targeting Sikh religious sentiments, strategically timed to coincide with major Sikh religious observances. In April 2025, the Pakistani government more than doubled the number of religious visas issued for the Baisakhi celebrations—from 3,000 to over 6,000. This expansion came despite the ongoing diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan.
Continuing its outreach, Pakistan announced on May 30 that Sikh jathas from India were welcome to attend the Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (June 9–18) and the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (June 22–July 1). The announcement was followed by directives from Pakistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB), instructing local media outlets to provide prominent coverage of these religious events—suggesting an intent to amplify the optics of inclusion and hospitality.
In a notable gesture, the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) organized a symbolic welcome ceremony on June 9 for Indian Sikh pilgrims at the Wagah border—despite the closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari-Wagah. The Pakistani High Commission in Delhi also extended invitations for visa applications to Sikh organizations such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), bypassing the existing travel restrictions affecting other Indian nationals.
Experts suggest that such selective accommodation is a strategic ploy. By facilitating travel exclusively for Sikh pilgrims while maintaining restrictions on other Indian visitors, Pakistan appears to be cultivating the narrative that the Sikh community represents a distinct national identity—an attempt to exploit religious fault lines and promote separatist sentiment, particularly in the sensitive border state of Punjab.
Beyond India’s borders, Pakistan’s outreach to the Sikh diaspora has also intensified. In May, Ramesh Singh Arora, Minister for Minority Affairs in Punjab Province and President of PSGPC, visited Italy as part of a Pakistani delegation. During his visit, Arora addressed a religious gathering at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Cortenuova—an institution linked to pro-Khalistan advocacy—at the invitation of Gurjinder Singh Shastri, a known pro-Khalistan figure. Arora’s presentation highlighted Pakistan-based Sikh shrines and appealed for donations to support their upkeep.
Observers note that Arora, along with Saifullah Khokhar, Additional Secretary of the ETPB, has been actively engaging with Sikh organizations abroad to facilitate pilgrimages to Pakistan. Notably, these interactions are often accompanied by warnings that dwindling attendance at Kartarpur Sahib could jeopardize the sustainability of the Kartarpur Corridor—a veiled tactic to rally diaspora support while subtly blaming India for restricting religious access.
Security and policy experts believe these developments are part of a long-standing strategy by Pakistan to increase its ideological and political penetration into Sikh communities globally. By portraying itself as a guardian of Sikh heritage and religious freedom, Pakistan aims to foster dissatisfaction among Sikhs toward the Indian government, thereby fueling separatist sentiments and reviving Khalistani rhetoric.
India has long maintained that such efforts are rooted in a broader strategy of disinformation and destabilization. The selective embrace of Sikh pilgrims, orchestrated media coverage, and diaspora engagement all point toward a campaign designed not only to influence perception but also to incite division under the veneer of religious solidarity.
As geopolitical tensions persist, observers warn that Pakistan’s increasingly sophisticated outreach to the Sikh community may continue to challenge India’s internal harmony, making it crucial to remain vigilant against attempts to weaponize faith for political ends.
