New Delhi: India has responded to Pakistan’s false allegations over the so-called drone attack on Nankana Sahib Gurdwara and described it as “baseless” and “wrongful” in nature. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a press conference said May 9, 2025. He accused Pakistan of spinning its own narratives to take focus away from its own terror activities after the Pahalgam terror attack and rising tensions on the Line of Control (LoC). Due to the worsening of the situation, India ordered the staff to temporarily stop services through the Kartarpur Corridor for an indefinite period of time.
Allegations and rebuttals related to Pakistan and India
India: A few days ago, Pakistan alleged that a drone attack was conducted on Nankana Sahib, a prominent Sikh religious site and the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev. Foreign Secretary Misri dismissed the allegations as “absurd, offensive and completely fictitious”. He blamed Pakistan for carrying out a planned exercise to fuel communal discord and defame India globally. Pakistan continues with its old tactics of using propaganda to cover its terrorism-by-design and other disruptive activities, Misri said.
The Pakistani statement was one of the most audacious claims. Pakistan even said that the Indian armed forces were shelling and targeting Indian cities such as Amritsar to execute the attacks seamlessly. This narrative is “ridiculous and an active attempt to mislead the world,” Misri said. He underlined that India would continue to work to counter such propaganda and call Pakistan to account for its “continued patronage” of terrorism.
Move to suspend the Kartarpur Corridor.
In the wake of rising security apprehensions due to continued cross-border skirmishes, India, on September 18, declared the temporary closure of the Kartarpur Corridor, a crucial pilgrimage route connecting Sikh devotees with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. This underscores India’s uncompromising stance towards national security and integrity, particularly in response to Pakistan’s persistent provocations. Until the situation normalises, the corridor will stay closed, a clear signal from India to secure its own interests.
Pakistan’s Attack on Worship Locations and Civilian Areas
The Foreign Secretary Misri also pointed out the rising frequency of such incidents against civilian and religious places by Pakistan along the LoC. Twelve hours later, on May 7, 2025, Pakistani shelling in the vicinity of Christ School in Poonch killed a man. A shell landing on the house behind the school. Tragically, the attack claimed the lives of two students and injured their parents. He said that many school staff fled to an underground hall of the school that was used as a shelter. Local residents close to the school also took refuge there during the attack. The closure of schools during the attack prevented a significantly higher number of casualties.
Misri claimed that Pakistan has a well-thought-out plan for targeting places of worship by attacking gurdwaras, churches and temples. People described these attacks as a “new low” for Pakistan, violating “global conventions” and inciting “religious zealotry”. Misri said that the targeting of civilian infrastructure, such as schools, further manifested Pakistan’s blatant violation of humanitarian values.
The Broader Context of Tensions
This escalation comes after 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025. On May 6–7, 2025, India launched an initial air-strike campaign named Operation Sindoor in retaliation against Pakistan-backed terrorist groups that New Delhi accuses of staging the attack. Alleged Operation Gibraltar targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing more than 100 terrorists and reportedly disabling key Pakistani air defence systems. This was to be followed by Pakistan executing a massive number of drone attacks against India on May 8–9, when 300–400 units of Turkish-made Asisguard Songar UAVs were to be used for probing India’s air defence system.
These bravadoes by Pakistan regarding Nankana Sahib seem to be a knee-jerk reaction to its military blunders; an attempt to divert attention while seeking global sympathy. Nonetheless, the rapid response from India and the closure of the Kartarpur Corridor demonstrate India’s willingness to strike back against an overly negative narrative from Pakistan and preserve its own interests.
India’s strong backlash over baseless allegations made by Pakistan about Nankana Sahib denotes the growing distance between the two nations. Vikram Misri, Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary, made statements that expose the country’s reliance on misinformation to obscure its role in the widening cycle of violence. He also targeted civilian and religious sites. This signals that India would not allow threats to its security and sovereignty and content itself with the temporary closure of the Kartarpur Corridor. As the LoC remains tense, India has urged the international community to hold Pakistan accountable for its destabilising actions.