Sarabjeet Kaur’s Disappearance in Pakistan: Conversion, Marriage, and a Growing Cross-Border Concern

What began as a routine religious pilgrimage for thousands of Indian Sikh devotees turned into a diplomatic and social crisis after 48-year-old Sarabjeet Kaur from Kapurthala, Punjab, failed to return from Pakistan. She had entered the country on November 4, 2025, as part of a Sikh jatha visiting Nankana Sahib to mark Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birth anniversary. But when the jatha returned on November 13, her absence immediately raised alarms among authorities on both sides of the border. The immigration registers reflected an unsettling detail — her exit from Pakistan had not been recorded, and she had never re-entered India.

Sarabjeet Kaur, along with other Sikh pilgrims, had crossed the Wagah-Attari border into Pakistan on November 4 | India Today

The Emergence of the Nikahnama and Claims of Voluntary Conversion

Within days of her disappearance, a nikahnama surfaced in Pakistan. The document stated that she had embraced Islam, taken the name “Noor,” and married a Pakistani citizen, Nasir (or Naseer) Hussain, in Sheikhupura district on November 5, merely a day after her arrival. Her statement before a judicial magistrate further complicated the matter: she claimed she had known the man for nine years, loved him deeply, and chose conversion and marriage out of her own free will. The mahr was recorded as ₹10,000, already paid in full. Her declaration that she faced no coercion, no pressure, and no threats stands in stark contrast to the concerns raised in India.

Indian Investigators Dig Deeper

As the nikahnama circulated online, Indian authorities swung into action. Agencies visited her village, questioned her family, verified her passport, and began reconstructing her past. Her travel documents contained inconsistencies—such as listing her father’s name instead of her ex-husband’s—and her permanent address was registered in a different district. Investigators also noted her earlier involvement in three legal complaints, though she was reportedly acquitted or the cases were nearing closure.

Sarabjeet’s family, including her two sons, expressed shock upon learning of her alleged conversion and marriage. They insisted she had not disclosed any such relationship and had travelled purely for religious devotion. This widening gap between her testimony in Pakistan and her family’s statements in India has made the case even more contentious.

Religious Institutions and Political Voices Raise Concerns

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), responsible for organising such pilgrimages, has reacted sharply. The body is now considering barring lone women from joining jathas, arguing that safety and monitoring standards need serious re-evaluation. The SGPC also drew parallels with earlier cases — most notably that of Kiran Bala in 2018 — where a female pilgrim converted and stayed back in Pakistan.

The National Commission for Minorities’ Chairman, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, condemned the incident as “unforgivable” and questioned how such a lapse occurred under the guise of pilgrimage. He demanded coordinated action from both nations and stressed the need for stringent verification frameworks, especially for cross-border religious travel.

Personal History, Allegations, and the Human Element

Beyond the political and institutional reactions lies the complex personal story of Sarabjeet Kaur. Reports suggest that she was divorced, had a turbulent personal life, and maintained long-standing online contact with the Pakistani man she eventually married. Her statement in Pakistani court—expressing love and insisting on her voluntary choice—adds a layer of emotional complexity. Yet, for her family and Sikh groups in India, the timing of her conversion and marriage raises doubts, suspicion, and fears of manipulation.

Broader Implications for Cross-Border Pilgrimage and Diplomacy

The controversy has gone beyond a single incident and opened discussions about:

• the safety of Indian pilgrims in Pakistan

• monitoring systems for women travellers

• the potential misuse of pilgrimage visas

• the diplomatic sensitivities surrounding religious travel between India and Pakistan

Each of these factors signals that the fallout from this case could influence future policies and reshape how Sikh jathas are organised.

The MGMM Outlook

Sarabjeet Kaur’s disappearance and sudden conversion in Pakistan underline a growing cross-border concern that goes beyond a single individual. A peaceful pilgrimage meant to honour Guru Nanak Dev Ji unexpectedly turned into a case filled with unanswered questions, contradictory statements, and emotional shock for her family. The speed at which the nikahnama appeared, the claim of a relationship she had never revealed back home, and the lack of clarity around her movements inside Pakistan raise doubts about how such situations unfold once pilgrims are across the border. While Pakistan frames her actions as voluntary, the circumstances — especially her immediate marriage and transformation into “Noor” — deepen the suspicion that pilgrims, particularly lone women, face vulnerabilities that have been overlooked for too long.

The reactions from bodies like the SGPC and the National Commission for Minorities reflect genuine community concern rather than political blame. These institutions have long warned about the recurring pattern of women staying back in Pakistan after sudden conversions, reminding us of earlier incidents like that of Kiran Bala. The focus now is on strengthening community-driven safeguards, improving coordination between pilgrimage organisers, and ensuring better support systems for women travellers. This case shows that cross-border pilgrimages require stricter monitoring and stronger protective measures — not because of any government failure on the Indian side, but because the environment across the border continues to present risks that demand caution, vigilance, and collective responsibility.

(Sources: News18, India Today, NDTV)