New Delhi: Fourteen Indian citizens traveling to Pakistan as part of a large group of pilgrims for Guru Nanak’s 556th birth anniversary celebrations were denied entry and sent back after Pakistani officials reportedly refused to accept them, allegedly telling them, "You are Hindu, not Sikh."

The group of pilgrims, who were Pakistani-origin Sindhi Hindus, later granted Indian citizenship, had joined around 2,100 other devotees approved by India’s Home Ministry to visit Nankana Sahib, Guru Nanak's birthplace. Pakistan had also issued travel documents for the same number of pilgrims.

On Tuesday, approximately 1,900 of the pilgrims crossed the Wagah border, marking the first civilian movement between India and Pakistan since Operation Sindoor, India’s military action in May following the Pahalgam terror attack. However, it was confirmed that 14 individuals were turned away and forced to return.

According to a report by NDTV, Pakistani authorities told the group, "You are Hindu… you can’t go with Sikh devotees."

The pilgrims, reportedly from Delhi and Lucknow, returned "humiliated," the report stated.

Additionally, nearly 300 other pilgrims who had applied for visas independently were stopped at the Indian border due to their lack of the mandatory approval from India’s Home Ministry.

Notably, senior Sikh leaders, including Akal Takht representative Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, SGPC delegate Bibi Gurinder Kaur, and DSGMC's Ravinder Singh Sweeta, were among those allowed entry into Pakistan.

The main Gurpurab ceremony is taking place at Gurdwara Janamasthan, located about 80 km from Lahore. During their 10-day pilgrimage, Indian Sikh devotees are scheduled to visit historic shrines such as Gurdwara Panja Sahib (Hasan Abdal), Gurdwara Sacha Sauda (Farooqabad), and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib (Kartarpur).

This incident occurred amid ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, particularly following the deadly Pahalgam massacre in April, which claimed 26 lives, mostly civilians.