Days after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO meeting, India and Pakistan on Tuesday agreed to renew the agreement on the Kartarpur corridor for another five years. However, the issue of Islamabad charging $20 per pilgrim still persists.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, also often called Kartarpur Sahib, is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. This is because the Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev, preached there during the last eighteen years of his life.
After the partition of India in 1947, Kartarpur Sahib came to the Pakistan side of the international border. With India being home to more than 95 percent of Sikhs globally, pilgrims from all over India have always sought to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which is in Shakargarh tehsil of Narowal district in the Punjab province of Pakistan.
On October 24, 2019, India and Pakistan signed an agreement to facilitate the travel of pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. Initially it was signed for a period of five years. It has now been renewed for another 5-year term.
“It has been agreed to extend the validity of the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for a period of five years through diplomatic channels between India and Pakistan,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
“The extension of validity of this agreement will ensure uninterrupted operation of the corridor for pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurudwara in Pakistan,” it said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also talked about it on social media platforms.
During his recent 24-hour visit to Pakistan for the SCO summit, Mr Jaishankar did not hold any bilateral meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, nor was there any official meeting. However, he congratulated Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif when Shahbaz welcomed him at a state dinner hosted for all SCO delegates. Mr Jaishankar reportedly exchanged brief greetings with his counterpart Ishaq Dar at the official dinner. However, no official conversation took place and no note taker was present.
fee waiver request
Pakistan is charging a fee of $20 per pilgrim to visit the holy temple. Indian devotees are urging the Indian government to make efforts to get Islamabad to waive this fee. However, no success has been achieved in this regard.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “In view of the continued requests of pilgrims regarding removal of the service charge of US$ 20 per pilgrim levied by Pakistan, India has once again decided not to levy any fee or charge on pilgrims from Pakistan.” It has been requested not to install it.” MEA) said in its statement.
