Amritsar, Sept. 15 -- The Union government has refused permission to send a Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims) to Pakistan for Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak's Parkash Parb in November this year, citing security concerns.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had started the process earlier this year in July, gathering passports of intending devotees and sending applications to the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi for the necessary visas for the 10-day pilgrimage. However, in a letter sent to the chief secretary of Punjab and other neighbouring states, the Union ministry of home affairs stated that the current security situation between India and Pakistan made it unsafe for pilgrims to travel.

"Considering the prevailing sec...