Kartarpur Corridor Updates

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Kartarpur Corridor Updates

Kartarpur Corridor is a proposed border-corridor between India and Pakistan connecting the Sikh Holy shrine of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib to the holy shrine of Kartarpur Sahib state of Punjab in India and the province of Punjab in Pakistan.

 

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Kartarpur Corridor Documentary

 

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W c to pakistan our sikh brothers

 

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Why is Kashmir shown as part of India on the map, top right of picture?

 

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Because it is from Indian site.

 

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NAROWAL: The longstanding dream is finally being materialized in a literal sense as heavy machinery reached Kartarpur area of the district to start construction work on the corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district.

According to details, the construction company, in charge of the whole project, has shifted heavy machinery and raw material to Kartarpur to start building a four-kilometer road from the Gurdwara to the border.

The construction of two bridges on the Ravi and on seasonal nullah Baeen is also a part of the project whose work will begin in couple of days.

In a historical event on November 28, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur Corridor which was also attended by Indian ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri on the invitation of the Pakistan government.

After Pakistan’s initiative to open the Kartarpur Corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak next year, India had also agreed and decided to build the Kartarpur road corridor up to the border with Pakistan.

 

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Pakistan will give 500 permits daily.
December 29, 2018

Sikh pilgrims look from Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor in Kartarpur on November 28, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India have developed separate proposals to establish a mechanism for visit of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal district through Kartarpur border corridor.

According to sources in the Foreign Ministry, Pakistan has given proposals about the number and entry procedure of the Sikh pilgrims. Pakistan will allow them to enter without visa. However, they should have a valid Indian passport and a clearance from the Indian Ministry of Interior.

They will be allowed to visit Pakistan in groups of at least 15 persons. Pakistan will give 500 permits daily. Indian government will provide list of the pilgrims to Pakistan at least three days in advance.

According to the proposal, both the countries will set up facilitation centres and check posts on their own sides. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib will remain open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Both the countries will also maintain record of the Sikh pilgrims which will include name, address and travelling record.

The pilgrims will be bound to follow the laws charted out in advance. The permit issued by Pakistan will be valid for Gurdwara Darbar Sahib only. Pakistan government has also clarified that Pakistan can reduce or suspend the number of permits to be issued.

It may be recalled that the Federal Investigation Agency had sent these proposals a few days back to the federal government which now have been sent to Indian government. If the two governments agree to these proposals, they will turn into a law.

According to Indian High Commission sources, the Indian government has also prepared a draft proposal according to which, police verification will be mandatory for the Sikh pilgrims. Those visiting Darbar Sahib will apply one month in advance and police verification may take from five to 25 days.

Indian Sikh pilgrims will not be able to stay for more than four hours at Darbar Sahib. They will not be allowed to purchase anything from there except Prasad. The Indian proposal says foreigner Indian citizens will not be allowed to come to Darbar Sahib. They will have to get visa.

The Indian government has also proposed that arrangement for the transport for the Sikh pilgrims be made by India. Diplomatic sources say the two sides are agreeable to 80% of each other’s proposals and will sign the joint draft after reaching consensus.

 

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New Delhi to review Kartarpur corridor plan today
By Asif Mehmood
January 15, 2019

Sikh pilgrims look from Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after a groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor in Kartarpur on November 28, 2018. PHOTO: AFP

Indian officials will hold their first meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Kartarpur corridor plan at the Indian Interior Ministry in New Delhi.

The meeting will be chaired by the interior secretary and High Commissioner of India to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria will also be present.

The meeting will discuss the feasibility of the Kartarpur corridor, the immigration process for Sikh pilgrims and the costs incurred by the construction of the corridor.

The first phase of construction will see a four-lane road that leads from India’s Gurdaspur to the Pakistani border, while the second phase will see the construction of another four-lane road that leads from Amritsar to Gurdaspur. The meeting will also discuss the estimated costs as well as the feasibility of the project.

According to the Indian interior ministry, Bisaria will also update the Indian side on the progress made on the corridor in Pakistan while Indian Punjab’s chief secretary will also brief the meeting in this regard.

The meeting will further discuss the facilities that will be provided to Sikh pilgrims, while important decisions are also expected to be taken about maintaining the law and order situation in India after the Kartarpur border is eventually opened.

According to sources in the Indian interior ministry, Pakistan’s suggestions pertaining to the departure and arrival of pilgrims will also come under discussion. In light of these recommendations, India will pen down their own set of suggestions, which will later be reviewed by both the sides and finalised.

Pakistan is constructing a 4.5-kilometre long corridor starting from Gurudwara Darbar Sahib to the Pakistan-India border. The corridor includes an 800-metre long bridge, being constructed over River Ravi.

Earlier, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noor Ul Haq inspected the construction work on the Kartarpur corridor on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s directives. Around 30 per cent of the construction has been completed while the project’s first phase will be completed by August 31.

On the other hand, India has to construct a corridor from the Pakistan-India border to Dera Baba Nanak. The land has also been acquired for the purpose but construction work has not started yet. One of the problematic tasks at hands is connecting the corridor to main Indian routes, which will also come under discussion in today’s meeting.

 

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KartarPur Corridor Constructions Work Report !! 35% construction completed in Pakistan Side

 

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Indian team invited to finalise Kartarpur deal

January 21, 2019

Work in progress at the Kartarpur Corridor. PHOTO: FOREIGN OFFICE

ISLAMABAD.: Pakistan has invited India for talks to finalise the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor opening in a move indicating the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government’s continued efforts to reach out to the estranged neighbour.

While extending the invitation for early talks, Islamabad on Monday also shared the draft agreement between the two countries to operationalise the Kartarpur Corridor.

“In line with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s commitment to open Kartarpur Corridor on the occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November, 2019, the Government of Pakistan has shared the draft Agreement between Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Government of the Republic of India for facilitation of (Indian) Sikh Yatrees to visit the Gurdwara, Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan with the Government of India through the Indian High Commission in Islamabad,” said a statement issued here by the foreign office.

The government of Pakistan appointed Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) Dr Muhammad Faisal as the focal person on Pakistan’s side and requested the Government of India designate a focal person at its end. “The government of Pakistan also invites the government of India to urgently send a delegation to Islamabad to negotiate and finalise the agreement,” the statement added.

The proposal to open Kartarpur Corridor has been on the table for many years but began to shape after Prime Minister Imran Khan took charge in August last year.

Former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, who attended the oath taking of Prime Minister Imran, was told by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa that Pakistan was planning to open the Kartarpur Corridor on the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

The prime minister inaugurated the ground breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor on November 28.

Pakistan took this step to accommodate the longstanding request of the Sikh community, especially from India particularly in view of 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.

“This is 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 foreign office statement said.

The move comes despite no apparent positive movement towards the normalisation of relationship between the two countries. With India heading for elections in few months, there is little chance for any major breakthrough in the near future.