Sheena Sandhu
Pilgrimage is sacred. But no pilgrimage is worth the risk of becoming a pawn in a neighbour’s long-standing strategy of hostility. India’s decision this year is not a denial of faith—it is a defense of lives and of national integrity. It is incumbent on the Sikh community, and indeed on all Indians, to recognize that in times such as these, to stand with the nation is itself an act of devotion. (c)
The Government of India’s decision to withhold permission for a Sikh jatha to travel to Pakistan this year, citing security concerns in the wake of Operation Sindoor, is both prudent and necessary. While the emotional connect of the Sikh community with shrines across the border is undeniable, the context in which such visits take place cannot be divorced from the realities of security and statecraft.
The Security Imperative
For decades, Pakistan has sought to use Sikh pilgrimages as more than occasions of religious devotion. The jathas that travel to Nankana Sahib, Panja Sahib or Kartarpur often encounter not just the sanctity of gurdwaras, but also the shadow of propaganda. Hostile agencies have repeatedly attempted to circulate Khalistani literature, glorify separatists, and sow discord among pilgrims. The danger this year is magnified. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, militant networks backed from across the border have every incentive to retaliate, and Indian pilgrims would have been vulnerable targets for manipulation or worse.
Pakistan’s Cynical Posturing
Islamabad’s posturing as a guardian of Sikh heritage rings hollow against its record of intolerance and persecution of minorities at home. Temples destroyed, conversions forced, and blasphemy laws wielded against the weak hardly inspire confidence. For India to allow its citizens to walk into a carefully staged theatre of “religious hospitality” under these conditions would be to abdicate responsibility.
Faith and Nationhood
The Sikh community’s ties to the Indian state have always been forged in sacrifice and solidarity. From defending the borders in 1947 to standing at the frontlines in every conflict since, Sikhs have been integral to the nation’s security and unity. It is in this spirit that religious devotion today must be balanced with patriotism. To fall prey to Pakistan’s cynical manoeuvres would do injustice not just to the Sikh faith, but to the very legacy of resilience and nationhood that the Gurus embodied.
A Better Way Forward
The way forward lies not in yielding to Pakistan’s traps, but in investing in and strengthening Sikh heritage within India. Recent initiatives to restore gurdwaras, expand pilgrim infrastructure, and facilitate access to the Kartarpur Corridor reflect New Delhi’s recognition of Sikh religious aspirations—without compromising on security. Such measures should be expanded, ensuring that no Sikh feels compelled to look to Pakistan for validation of faith.
The Bottom Line
Pilgrimage is sacred. But no pilgrimage is worth the risk of becoming a pawn in a neighbour’s long-standing strategy of hostility. India’s decision this year is not a denial of faith—it is a defense of lives and of national integrity. It is incumbent on the Sikh community, and indeed on all Indians, to recognize that in times such as these, to stand with the nation is itself an act of devotion.
This version uses a measured but firm editorial voice—authoritative, not emotional, and sharp in exposing Pakistan’s duplicity, while urging Sikh unity with the nation.
(The writer is a retired civil servant, views are personal)