India and Pakistan sign historic agreement on Kartarpur Corridor

India and Pakistan on Thursday signed a landmark agreement to operationalise the historic Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The Indian delegation was represented by the officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Defence (MOD), Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) and Punjab Government. The corridor will be opened by Pakistan on November 9. Both the countries have also decided that the corridor will be operational throughout the year and seven days a week and that pilgrims will have a choice to visit it as individuals or in groups.

During the Indian Delegation briefing, MHA Joint Secretary SCL Das said, "Katratpur Corridor will be open from dawn to dusk. Pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return on the same day. Corridor will be operational throughout the year, except on notified days, to be informed in advance."

"Indian pilgrims of all faith and persons of Indian origin can use the Kartarpur Corridor. The travel will be visa-free. Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport. All-weather connectivity is our commitment. All the required infrastructure timely on our side. Security in place. Pakistan hasn't built a bridge yet, but we made a temporary service lane for the commuters," he added.

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Lastly, the MHA said, "India will send a list of pilgrims to Pakistan 10 days ahead of the date of travel. Confirmation of the Pilgrim will be sent 4 days ahead on SMS. The online portal for the registration of the pilgrim has gone live today. Pilgrims can register themselves using the portal from November 10."

Earlier, the MEA had stated in a press release that it had agreed to sign the Kartarpur Corridor with Pakistan despite the neighbour's 'insistence' on $20 fee per pilgrim, keeping in mind the interest of Sikh devotees. The Centre has called Pakistan's decision to levy the fee a 'disappointment'. It also highlighted the need for operationalising the Corridor before the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak on November 12, 2019.

Last month, India and Pakistan agreed on visa-free travel of Indian pilgrims to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib using the Kartarpur corridor. Pilgrims will only have to carry their passports to visit the revered gurdwara in Pakistan. Persons of Indian origin holding OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) card too can visit the Gurdwara using the Kartarpur corridor.

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PM Modi to inaugurate Kartarpur Corridor

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the much-awaited Kartarpur Corridor to Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan on November 8, Union Minister Harsimrat Badal confirmed. The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the integrated check post on the Indian side, she said. Taking to Twitter, the Union Minister announced that PM Modi will be creating history by inaugurating the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. 

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About Kartarpur Sahib

Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the Ravi River, about four kilometers from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. In a major initiative last November, both India and Pakistan had agreed to set up the Kartarpur Corridor. The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab and facilitate the visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit the holy Gurudwara. Kartarpur Sahib was established in 1522 by Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev.

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