Exclusive: Pakistan contemplates expansion of Kartarpur corridor before renewal of agreement with India | India News

As the first five-year agreement for the Kartarpur Corridor approaches its expiration in early November 2024, Pakistan aims to expand the corridor to include other important Sikh pilgrimage sites, such as Nankana Sahib, which is about three hours away. drive from Gurdwara. Kartarpur Sahib. The initial agreement, signed in 2019, has facilitated visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to visit the revered Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal district.

The Kartarpur Corridor, inaugurated on November 9, 2019 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s then Prime Minister Imran Khan, allows Indian pilgrims to cross into Pakistan without a visa, although certain conditions apply. Under the current agreement, up to 5,000 Indian pilgrims can visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib daily, and each pilgrim must pay a service fee of $20. However, the actual number of daily visitors has not reached the expected 5,000, with an average of less than 200 pilgrims visited each day.

Pakistan’s proposed expansion

Ahead of the renewal of the agreement, sources suggest that Pakistan is likely to express interest not only in renewing the corridor but also in expanding its scope to include Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. This initiative would allow pilgrims to visit both Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur Sahib, two of the holiest places in Sikhism. Additionally, Pakistan is reported to be considering a proposal to allow devotees to spend the night at Kartarpur Sahib, instead of complying with the current requirement of returning to India by nightfall.

“I have raised this issue in the highest forum of Pakistan, emphasizing that pilgrims coming from India should be allowed to stay at least one night so that they can have the privilege of listening to Gurbani at Rahras Sahib in the evening and during Amrit Vela,” said Ramesh Singh Arora, member of Pakistan’s Punjab Provincial Assembly. “At the same time, I urge our Sikh religious bodies such as Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee to make efforts to facilitate Indian devotees to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib,” Arora added.

However, logistical challenges remain. The distance between the two sites and associated travel requirements could complicate any expansion plans. It is unclear how the proposal could be implemented or whether India would accept the expanded itinerary. Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the SGPC, has called for not only removing the $20 service fee but also removing the passport requirement for pilgrims. He noted that many Punjab residents do not possess passports, limiting their ability to visit the holy site. These demands reflect long-standing grievances, as Indian officials have repeatedly raised concerns about the service fee, calling it a hindrance to pilgrims.

Service charge debate

The $20 service charge imposed by Pakistan has been a contentious issue since the corridor’s inception. Pakistani authorities maintain that the fee is necessary to cover operational costs, including transportation services, free meals (langar), medical facilities and administrative support provided to pilgrims. On the contrary, Indian leaders have criticized it as a commercial imposition on a spiritual pilgrimage.

Amid growing calls for a reduction or waiver of the service charge, Sikh authorities in Pakistan have suggested reviewing the fee structure. They have proposed that a collective $20 fee could be applied to families, rather than charging each individual separately. They also recommended implementing a reduced fee for frequent visitors, subject to approval by relevant ministries of Pakistan.

Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney recently urged the Indian government to take up the tariff issue with Pakistan in the upcoming negotiations. He highlighted the broader challenges faced by Sikh pilgrims and advocated for measures to facilitate access to the holy site.

Importance of sacred places

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, also known as Kartarpur Sahib, occupies a unique place in Sikh history as the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who spent the last 18 years of his life there before passing away in 1539. Located approximately five kilometers The India-Pakistan border has long been a beacon of devotion for Sikhs around the world. Meanwhile, Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, is another pivotal site of Sikhism, making the proposed expansion of the corridor a potentially monumental development for the community.

Corridor for Peace

In recent years, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib has witnessed several family reunions of people separated by the India-Pakistan partition, who had previously been unable to meet. This is why former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Ajay Basariya, referred to Kartarpur as a “corridor of faith” and a “corridor for peace” in his public statements.

Wider implications and diplomatic obstacles

The expansion proposal comes at a time when India and Pakistan have not engaged in formal bilateral talks for almost a decade. Renewing the Kartarpur Corridor agreement and addressing concerns such as the service fee could provide an opportunity for limited engagement between the two nations. However, it remains a major challenge for India to persuade Pakistan to waive the $20 charge, especially in light of the broader diplomatic freeze.

Financial and operational aspects

Pakistan claims to have invested PKR 16.2 billion in developing the Kartarpur Corridor. The service fee has been justified as a means of recovering some of these costs, although the issue remains a sore point between the two governments. At the same time, India has not only established the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Dera Baba Nanak, dedicated to the Sri Kartarpur Corridor, but has also invested billions of INR in developing the road network leading to the ICP. . Pakistan, for its part, has built a 400-meter-long bridge; However, the final phase of connecting the bridge remains incomplete even after five years.

With the current agreement set to expire, the terms of the renewed pact, including possible expansion to Nankana Sahib, are likely to take center stage in the discussions. Both sides will have to weigh the religious, logistical and financial aspects of any change. As the Kartarpur Corridor enters its next phase, aspirations for its expansion underscore its symbolic significance and the complex interplay of religion, politics and diplomacy between India and Pakistan. Whether these aspirations will materialize depends on the willingness of both nations to confront the challenges and seize the opportunity to foster greater connectivity and understanding.