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India, Pakistan Extend Visa Free Kartarpur Corridor, for Sikh pilgrims

The Kartarpur Corridor, facilitating visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan, has been renewed for five more years, reinforcing religious ties between India and Pakistan amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Kartarpur Corridor

India and Pakistan have officially extended the Kartarpur Corridor agreement for another five years, reinforcing a crucial initiative that allows visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The shrine holds immense significance for Sikhs worldwide, being the place where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent the final years of his life. The renewal of this agreement follows its initial signing on October 24, 2019, which was seen as a major confidence-building step between the two historically rival nations.

The Kartarpur Corridor was opened in time for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and aimed to fulfill the long-standing demand of Indian pilgrims to access the revered shrine. The corridor links Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, located in Pakistan's Narowal district. Since its inauguration, over 110,670 Indian nationals and holders of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards have used the corridor, a figure shared by the Indian government during a 2022 parliamentary session.

The recent extension ensures that Indian pilgrims can continue their journey to this holy site without visa requirements. This step, while encouraging, comes amidst India’s repeated requests for Pakistan to waive the $20 service fee it imposes on every pilgrim visiting Kartarpur Sahib. Indian pilgrims and the Indian government have consistently urged Pakistan to eliminate this charge, as many view it as a financial burden on those making the spiritual journey.

In a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the country reiterated its appeal for the removal of the fee: "In view of the continued requests from pilgrims regarding the removal of the USD 20 service charge levied by Pakistan per pilgrim per visit, India has once again urged Pakistan to not levy any fee or charges on the pilgrims." Despite these ongoing appeals, Pakistan has maintained the fee since the corridor’s inception.

The original agreement, which expired after five years, was pivotal in enabling Sikhs from India to visit one of their holiest sites, especially given that the Kartarpur Gurdwara fell on the Pakistan side of the border following the 1947 Partition. With over 95% of the world’s Sikh population residing in India, the demand for easy access to Kartarpur had been a significant point of cultural and religious importance. The corridor itself was the product of extensive diplomatic efforts between the two countries, which involved constructing infrastructure on both sides of the border. Pakistan built a road leading from the town of Dera Baba Nanak to Zero Point on the border, while India constructed an integrated check post on its side to facilitate smooth transit.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who played a role in the diplomatic engagement regarding the corridor, highlighted the importance of the renewal on his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter). He stated, "India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the next five years. PM @narendramodi's government will continue to facilitate our Sikh community's access to their holy sites."

Interestingly, this renewal comes in the wake of Jaishankar’s recent visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Although no official bilateral meetings took place during his visit, the timing of the extension highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement between India and Pakistan on key cultural and religious issues, despite their broader geopolitical tensions. At the summit’s state dinner, Jaishankar exchanged greetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but no formal talks were held.

The Kartarpur Corridor remains one of the few successful examples of India and Pakistan cooperating for the benefit of their citizens, particularly in the context of religious pilgrimage. While the two countries continue to have strained relations, the corridor is a unique bridge that underscores the possibility of peaceful collaboration, even in times of political friction.

Despite the diplomatic success, the matter of the $20 fee imposed by Pakistan remains unresolved. Indian pilgrims have consistently requested the Indian government to negotiate the removal of this charge, as many view it as an additional financial burden on an otherwise deeply spiritual journey. As of now, however, no breakthrough on this issue has been achieved.

The renewal of the Kartarpur Corridor agreement is a significant development in maintaining the link between India’s Sikh community and one of its holiest shrines. It stands as a reminder that even in the face of larger political and diplomatic challenges, avenues for peaceful and collaborative efforts can be sustained. The extension of this agreement will continue to facilitate the spiritual connection for Sikhs, ensuring that their pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib remains uninterrupted for the next five years. The ongoing discussions around the service fee will likely continue to be a point of negotiation, as both sides navigate the complexities of maintaining this important cultural corridor.

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