Renewal of Kartarpur Corridor Agreement Between Pakistan and India for Five More Years
Pakistan and India have come together to renew their agreement to facilitate pilgrims through the Kartarpur Corridor for an additional five years, as announced by the Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday.
The agreement, initially signed on October 24, 2019, for a five-year period, has been extended to continue the visa-free access for pilgrims from India to visit the revered Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. This renewal showcases Pakistan’s commitment to promoting interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence, fostering the long-cherished aspirations of the Sikh community.
The Kartarpur Corridor has enabled thousands of worshippers to pilgrimage to this holy site, attracting praise from the international community. Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres have both acknowledged the significance of this initiative.
For the Sikh community worldwide, Kartarpur holds immense religious importance, and the corridor serves as a symbol of hope and unity amid the historical tensions between India and Pakistan. Formerly inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan in November 2019, this pathway symbolizes the shared cultural heritage between the two countries and aims to facilitate easier access to religious landmarks for pilgrims.