Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur Corridor Closed Amidst India-Pakistan Tensions
Following Operation Sindoor, India closes the Kartarpur Corridor.
In a significant turn of events, the Kartarpur Corridor, a vital spiritual passage for Sikhs, is now closed following Operation Sindoor, a military operation carried out by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. This brutal attack took the lives of 26 innocent tourists in Kashmir. The corridor closure is due to the strikes on nine high-value terror targets within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) carried out as part of Operation Sindoor [1][2][4][5].
The gurdwara at Kartarpur carries immense spiritual significance for Sikhs, as it's the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, their first guru, who spent the last 18 years of his life there. The corridor, inaugurated on November 9, 2019, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offers Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders a visa-free border crossing to visit the gurdwara [6].
Unfortunately, due to the current circumstances, over 150 pilgrims who gathered at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) to embark on their pilgrimage were asked to return home. Authorities advised them of an unsuitable situation and recommended their departure around 11 a.m. [1].
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the closure "till further orders," with no formal orders for days beyond the current shutdown. The corridor connecting India and Pakistan has been under heightened tensions in the wake of recent events. On this morning, India conducted a major military action in response to the Pahalgam attack, which targeted nine terror camps across the border [3][5]. On account of these tensions, many schools, colleges, and educational institutions in regions along the international border with Pakistan have been closed, with some districts such as Fazilka having indefinite closures in effect [7].
[1] - The Economic Times - Kartarpur Corridor Shutdown: All You Need to Know about India's Decision
[2] - India Today - Kartarpur Corridor Shutdown: India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate After Cross-Border Strikes
[3] - The Print - Kartarpur Corridor: A Symbol of Sikh, Indian Faith Disrupted Amidst Indo-Pak Tensions
[4] - The Hindu - Kartarpur Corridor Shutdown: Update on Indian Pilgrims Return
[5] - CNN News18 - Kartarpur Corridor Closure: Exploring the Implications of India-Pakistan Tensions
[6] - BBC News - Kartarpur Corridor Opens, Offering Pilgrims a Culture of Peace
[7] - Deccan Herald - Educational Institutions Along Border Shut as Tensions Escalate Following Pahalgam Attack
- The closure of the Kartarpur Corridor, a significant spiritual passage for Sikhs, has been facilitated by the military operation named Operation Sindoor, a response to the Pahalgam terror attack that took lives in Kashmir.
- Finance of tourism and related businesses in the region might be affected by the sudden closure of the Kartarpur Corridor due to the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions.
- Sahib, the title given to a religious leader, would likely express his concerns over the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor, as it is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, the first guru of Sikhism.
- Politics and war-and-conflicts continue to exert pressure on general news, with the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor being the latest development in the India-Pakistan tensions.
- The recent closure of the Kartarpur Corridor shows the need for diplomacy and peace talks to manage growing tensions, given its importance as a vital spiritual passage for Sikhs and its role in fostering cultural exchange.
