Pakistan invites Indian delegates to negotiate Kartarpur Corridor agreement

Pakistan has invited Indian delegates to negotiate and finalise the agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor for which the stone breaking ceremony was held on both sides of the border in November last year.

In a press release, the Pakistan government on Monday said they have appointed Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) as the focal person from Pakistan's side and requested that the Government of India should also designate a focal person at its end.

Pakistan has stated to have shared the draft agreement with New Delhi for the facilitation of Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara, Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

"This was in line with Islamic principles that advocate respect for all religions and Pakistan's policy of promoting inter-faith harmony and religious tolerance and also in line with Quaid's vision of a peaceful neighbourhood. Pakistan would continue with its efforts to bring peace and stability in the region," the press release said.

According to the proposed agreement, which is widely circulated in the Pakistani media, Islamabad will reserve the rights to refuse entry into its territory, reduce the period of stay or terminate the stay of any pilgrim despite the grant of permit if it considers him/her a threat



to the country or finds undesirable for security or other purposes.

Not more than 500 Sikh pilgrims will be allowed per day through the Kartarpur Corridor and a database of the pilgrims with their travel history will be maintained, Pakistan has said in the draft agreement that it plans to send to the Indian Government for signing.

In the agreement, Pakistan government has also said that three-day prior information of the visiting pilgrims and security clearance by the Indian side will be needed before the entry of Sikh pilgrims through the planned Kartarpur Corridor.

The draft also underlines that entry in Pakistan territory will be permitted and a passport is compulsory and the pilgrims will not be exempted from the obligation to respect the laws and regulations of Pakistan after entering its territory.

"All laws must be respected not just concerning entry and exit," the proposed draft agreement stated.

On November 28 last year, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Corridor along the India-Pakistan border. Once opened, it will allow Sikh pilgrims direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, where Guru Nanak Dev ji died in 1539.