Pakistan reaffirms commitment to Kartarpur Corridor opening in November

After third rounds of talks, Dr Faisal says 5,000 Indian Sikhs will be given visa-free entry every day

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Pakistan on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in November this year on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and urged India to show flexibility on the matter.

The announcement came after the third meeting on the Kartarpur Corridor at Attari, India on Wednesday. The meeting discussed the modalities of the draft agreement for facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur by using the Kartarpur Corridor.

The Pakistan delegation was led by Dr Mohammad Faisal, Director General for South Asia and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SA& Saarc) at the Foreign Ministry. The Indian side was led by SCL Das, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Both sides held detailed discussions on outstanding issues, including issuance of cards to visiting pilgrims. Dr Faisal, who is also the Foreign Office Spokesperson, said that both the sides exchanged dossiers on the corridor expansion.

In a post-meeting press briefing at the Wagah border, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan had taken unprecedented steps to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims. He urged India to show flexibility and leave political rhetoric aside.

"India needs to show some flexibility as we have taken an unprecedented initiative to reflect our commitment to the minorities," he said, adding that another round of delegation-level talks would be held to finalise the agreement.

During the talks, the two sides agreed on visa-free travel by Indian pilgrims – in groups and as individuals. The corridor will be open all year round for 5,000 pilgrims every day, Dr Faisal said, adding that the pilgrims will be provided Langar and Prasad.



"We have agreed on at least 5,000 pilgrims from India but we are open to more. There will be local pilgrims as well as international. We will allow entry to as many as we can under the capacity," Dr Faisal told reporters.

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said that both sides agreed that an identification card would be issued by Pakistan to the visiting pilgrims, while a joint working group would be constituted by the both sides to facilitate the smooth implementation of the agreement.

"It was stressed that Pakistan's Kartarpur spirit was aimed at facilitating and promoting Nanak Naamlevas but limiting pilgrims was necessary in the initial phases due to capacity constraints," the statement said.

"As announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan will allow visa-free access to pilgrims of all faiths, seven days a week, throughout the year, it said, adding: "Pilgrims will be charged nominal amount as service charges for the upkeep/maintenance of the Gurdwara Sahib."

"Prime Minister Khan's very first announcement of visa free access to pilgrims is testament to Pakistan's sincerity and commitment to maximally facilitating them. Visa free access to pilgrims precludes the need for consular officers from India."



Dr Faisal told reporters that the environment of the meeting remained good despite tension over Kashmir. He said both sides also decided to build a bridge on Budhi Ravi channel, open a direct line of communication between India's Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistan's Rangers.

Pakistan had completed more than 90% of the work on Kartarpur Corridor, he said. Responding to a question about the work done by the Indian side, Dr Faisal said the Indian government was responsible for what they do.

The Kartarpur Corridor is expected to open on November 11. Dr Faisal reiterated that Pakistan was committed to open the corridor by November this year on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

Pakistan has kept the corridor project insulated from the recent tensions with India over the annulment of Article 370, subsequent repressive actions in occupied Kashmir and intensified ceasefire violations on the Line of Control.

Indo-Pak tensions: Talks on Kartarpur Corridor today

Pakistan has taken a number of actions in response to the latest Indian move to end occupied Kashmir's autonomous status, including the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of trade and rail traffic.

The spokesperson said that the Foreign Office would soon arrange a visit for the journalists to show the progress on the development work at the corridor. He added the Indian side would also be invited to visit Pakistan for the last round of talks on Kartarpur Corridor.

Kartarpur corridor connects Pakistan's Narowal city to India's Gurdaspur district. Kartarpur Sahib Temple is one of the most revered temples for the Sikh community where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.

The distance between the temple and Gurdaspur is merely 3 kilometres but the closure of this crossing costs Sikh pilgrims from India to travel hundreds of kilometers, via Amritsar and Lahore, to reach here.