India, Pak renew Kartarpur Corridor agreement
India and Pakistan formally renewed the agreement to operate the Kartarpur Corridor for another five years, ensuring that Sikh pilgrims from India continue to visit the revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan till 2029. The move forms a part of a continued effort to help religious pilgrimages take place between the two nations despite the vagaries in diplomatic relations.
Background of the Kartarpur Corridor
The Kartarpur Corridor, launched in 2019, is a visa-free border crossing which lets Indian pilgrims visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal, Pakistan. This is where Guru Nanak spent his last days-Guru Nanak is the founder of Sikhism. The 4.7-kilometer-long corridor was constituted as a Confidence Building Measure between India and Pakistan under the tenure of the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. This opens one of the most sacred places to thousands of Sikh faithful as a symbol of religious tolerance and good will between the two countries.
Extension of the Agreement up to 2029
The earlier agreement signed on October 24, 2019 was going to expire after five years. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that now the corridors will be functional till 2029 and there won't be a disruption in access for pilgrims. Truly, this is a step forward, although India and Pakistan still remain on the edge.
Diplomatic Background
That renewal comes even in the wake of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Pakistan. It was the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nearly a decade. Though discussions at the meet were brief, they went on to reflect the incantations of communication between two nations as never seen before.
He posted the news on his social media accounts, underlining the Indian government's determination to facilitate access for the Sikh community to their sacred sites.
India To Pakistan: Farewell To Service Fee
The amount outstanding is the $20 service charge which Pakistan has charged every pilgrim. India has, at intervals, appealed to Pakistan to waive the fee that stands at about ₹1,680 per pilgrimage. The pilgrims have always sought this charge to be waived off. Pakistan had explained that this fee was also required not just for the Gurudwara's maintenance and renovation but also for "infrastructure".
Problems Facing the Corridor
Although Pakistan expressed disappointment with the number of pilgrims that actually visit the Gurudwara, it renewed the agreement. The quota set by the current agreement has increased to up to 5,000 pilgrims a day, although practically only a few hundred pilgrims visit daily. As justification for the service charge, Pakistan claims to have spent more than $17 million in upgrading facilities and transport services for the pilgrims.
A Deeper Look into the Diplomatic Relations of India and Pakistan
The Kartarpur Corridor is a magnificent monument to religious harmony but, on its own, bears testimony to the sensitive relationship between India and Pakistan. It has experienced moments when flare-ups rose in the form of border skirmishes as well as stalemates on contentious political issues. However, uninterrupted functioning of this corridor surely proves that the cultural and religious ties are able to transcend the touch of politics.
Importance of Kartarpur Sahib for Sikhs
This Gurudwara has an important significance to all the Sikhs in all parts of the world as it is well identified as the site of rest for the founder Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev Ji. This place falls in Narowal district of Pakistan, just a few kilometers from the border with India, and it is one of the most sacred shrines in Sikhism. It is one of the direct corridors for Indian Sikh pilgrims to the sacred site without a visa, which enables them to reconnect with their spiritual roots and pay homage to the teachings of Guru Nanak. For Sikhs, the pilgrimage at Kartarpur is not just a religious duty but rather a task that keeps them in the footsteps of their revered Guru and reminds them of equality, humility, and service as the bedrock of Sikhism.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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