Sikh Pilgrim from India Reported Missing in Pakistan

In a concerning turn of events, an Indian Sikh woman has gone missing while participating in a religious pilgrimage to Pakistan, raising alarms about the safety of travelers abroad. Identified as Sarabjit Kaur from Kapurthala district in Punjab, she was among a group of 1,923 Sikh pilgrims who journeyed under a bilateral treaty aimed at facilitating visits to sacred sites.

The pilgrimage commenced on November 4 at the Attari border in Amritsar, leading the group to Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Parkash Parv. Under the guidance of Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj of Akal Takht Sahib, the trip included visits to various prominent gurudwaras throughout a 10-day period.

While the rest of the group returned to India on Thursday evening, Sarabjit Kaur was notably absent from both the immigration documentation in Pakistan and the re-entry listings in India.

In response, authorities from both nations have initiated measures to locate her. The Indian mission in Pakistan is reportedly coordinating with Pakistani officials to accelerate the search and safeguard the pilgrim.

This incident arises just after the Union government granted clearance for Sikh pilgrims to embark on this 10-day religious trek to Nankana Sahib, following an earlier denial due to security apprehensions. Annually, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) organizes visits to significant Sikh landmarks in Pakistan, particularly during notable religious celebrations like Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary.

Intelligence agencies are vigilantly overseeing the situation as the quest for Sarabjit Kaur progresses, underscoring the difficulties associated with ensuring safety during religious travel across borders. Authorities emphasize the importance of vigilance among families and pilgrims during such journeys.