Pakistan Blocks Sikh Pilgrims from Traveling to Hemkund Sahib via Air
· World · Times of India, India Today
Pakistani authorities at Faisalabad International Airport have blocked a group of Sikh pilgrims from traveling to India’s Hemkund Sahib via air, demanding a No Objection Certificate (NOC) they claim was not required. The pilgrims, who had valid Indian visas, were stranded after missing their scheduled flights to Sharjah and Delhi. Pakistan’s Sikh minority minister, Ramesh Arora, allegedly pressured the group to travel via the Attari-Wagah land border instead. The incident follows ongoing difficulties for Sikh pilgrims due to the closure of the land border. The pilgrims have spent over ₹1.5 million on arrangements and are now stranded, praying for resolution.
Why it matters
This disruption affects Sikh pilgrims’ ability to perform their religious duties, causing financial and emotional distress. It also highlights ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, impacting cross-border religious travel and diplomatic relations.
Read the original report — Times of India
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