Members and employees of the passport committee checking passports earlier than departure for Pakistan. (Inset: Jyoti Malhotra, accused within the spy scandal)
The central and Haryana governments have modified the principles for non secular journey between India and Pakistan. The choice was taken after a Pakistani espionage community got here to gentle following Operation Sindoor and the case of Hisar YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra.
Safety businesses’ investigation has revealed that Pakistan’s intelligence company, the ISI, and personal tour operators there sponsor Indian residents within the title of non secular journey and weave a community of espionage.
In view of this, the Indian authorities has utterly banned all kinds of privately sponsored excursions originating from Pakistan. It should now not be doable to journey to Pakistan by people or non-public businesses.
Harkirat Singh, tourism in-charge of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Administration Committee, additionally confirmed this. He instructed Dainik Bhaskar that privately sponsored excursions had been discontinued after espionage circumstances similar to that of Jyoti Malhotra got here to gentle.
Earlier, folks travelling to Pakistan would contact an company there to rearrange a tour programme after which journey from India to undertake non secular excursions.
About 10 months in the past, a bunch departed from the historic Gurdwara Chhevin Patshahi in Kurukshetra.
How non secular journeys to Pakistan happen and what the quota is
Non secular journeys between India and Pakistan happen by each channels – particular person journey and teams. Most devotees journey in teams underneath the India-Pakistan “Non secular Shrines Protocol, 1974”. Underneath this association, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Residence Affairs present visa and safety clearances.
By the Kartarpur Sahib Hall, established in 2019, Indian residents and OCI cardholders can journey within the morning and return by night with out a visa, utilizing solely their passports. As well as, folks additionally journey to the Katas Raj Temple for Shivratri on particular group or particular person visas.
Permitted Annual Quota for SGPC and HSGMC Jathas
Underneath the 1974 bilateral settlement, the primary teams of Sikh pilgrims journey to Pakistan on 4 main events every year. Underneath this settlement, a complete of 8,000 Sikh pilgrims are permitted to journey to Pakistan every year throughout all 4 events (visa quota).
- Baisakhi/Khalsa Sajna Day (April): Most 3,000 pilgrims
- Martyrdom Day of Shri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Might-June): Most 1,000 pilgrims
- Loss of life Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (June): Most 1,000 pilgrims
- Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (November – Nankana Sahib): Most 3,000 pilgrims
Jyoti with Pakistani officer Danish and his spouse on the Iftar social gathering held on the Pakistan Excessive Fee in Delhi on March 28, 2024. (File)
How the sponsorship used to occur and what has modified now…
- Earlier Rule (Personal Sponsorship): Pakistani non-public tour operators, similar to journey businesses in Lahore and Islamabad, used to ship sponsorship letters on to Indian residents, influencers, and pilgrims. In return, visas had been simply obtained from the Pakistani Excessive Fee in New Delhi.
- In keeping with 2025 stories by the Punjab and Haryana Police, underneath this pretext, Pakistani businesses approached travellers by providing lodging, sightseeing, and different facilities after which labored to collect strategic and delicate info associated to India.
- New rule now (recognised entities solely): The federal government has utterly eradicated non-public networks. Any further, solely registered and constitutional non secular our bodies such because the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Administration Committee (HSGMC) shall be permitted to take jathas (teams) to Pakistan throughout the prescribed limits. No non-public particular person will have the ability to apply immediately for a visa.
- Police verification has turn into even stricter: All purposes shall be collected by the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Administration Committee (Kurukshetra).After this, the native police, CID, and central intelligence businesses will conduct a radical background verify of the candidates. Solely after clearance is acquired will the visa file be despatched to the Ministry of Residence Affairs.
A bunch of two,000 devotees will journey from Haryana on Gurpurab
In the meantime, the Haryana authorities has begun the method for devotees to go to Nankana Sahib in Pakistan and different historic gurdwaras on the sacred event of the beginning anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Gurpurab).
Functions have been invited from the Sikh neighborhood to take part within the non secular ceremonies being held from November 22 to December 1. Devotees can submit their purposes on the native degree or on the workplace of the district deputy commissioner by September 12.
Hisar YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra whereas touring to Pakistan from the Wagah border.
Now examine Jyoti Malhotra’s case…
- Accused of sending movies of navy camps to Pakistani brokers: Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested on Might 16, 2025. A police investigation claimed that she despatched movies of navy camps on the Kashmir Dam and the Rajasthan border to Pakistani brokers and remained in steady contact with them. After a 90-day investigation, the police filed a cost sheet.
- Declare of contact and conferences with Pakistani brokers: In keeping with Hisar police, regardless of a journey advisory, Jyoti travelled to Pakistan, exchanged telephone numbers with Pakistani brokers, and held conferences with them. Her cell phone revealed contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim Danish Ali, an official of the Pakistan Excessive Fee, and Shakir, Hasan Ali, and Nasir Dhillon, who had been alleged to be linked to the ISI.
- Additionally got here underneath investigation following journeys to Pakistan and China: Jyoti first went to Pakistan in 2024 and, roughly 25 days later, travelled to China. In Pakistan, she additionally interviewed Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz. Following these journeys and her contacts in Pakistan, safety businesses started monitoring her.
Tourism in-charge additionally got here underneath the purview of investigation within the espionage case
The scope of the investigation businesses is repeatedly increasing within the case of YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who’s lodged in Hisar jail on expenses of spying for Pakistan.
Jyoti had contacted Harkirat Singh, the tourism in-charge of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Administration Committee, in reference to a Pakistani visa.
After Jyoti’s arrest, Hisar police and central businesses questioned Harkirat Singh intensively for a number of hours in Kurukshetra. Though he was later launched, the police seized each his cellphones and despatched them for forensic examination. The businesses have included Harkirat Singh within the listing of official proof and witnesses within the case.
