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  India   All India  15 Jul 2019  Kartarpur corridor: Pakistan agrees to visa-free access to 5,000 Indians daily

Kartarpur corridor: Pakistan agrees to visa-free access to 5,000 Indians daily

Published : Jul 15, 2019, 2:26 am IST
Updated : Jul 15, 2019, 6:03 am IST

Everyday 5,000 pilgrims from India will be able to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, and they can travel on foot or in vehicles.

The Indian delegation, headed by S.C.L. Das (left), joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs, is received by Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, for the second round of talks on the Kartarpur corridor at Wagah border, in Lahore. (Photo: PTI)
 The Indian delegation, headed by S.C.L. Das (left), joint secretary in the ministry of home affairs, is received by Mohammad Faisal, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson, for the second round of talks on the Kartarpur corridor at Wagah border, in Lahore. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi/Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday agreed to year-long visa-free access to Indians of all faiths, including Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card-holders, to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. On a daily basis 5,000 pilgrims from India will be able to visit Kartarpur, and they can travel as individuals or in groups, on foot or in vehicles.

These decisions were taken during India and Pakistan’s second round of talks on the Kartarpur Corridor at Wagah border, in Lahore, on Sunday.

The two countries discussed the modalities, infrastructure development, security matters and a draft agreement for facilitation of pilgrims.

Officials said a middle ground was reached on several points, though a few issues still remain unresolved.

Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Dr Shah Mohamed Faisal, who led the Pakistani delegation in talks, told mediapersons after the meeting that “80 per cent” of the issues have been agreed upon, and another meeting will be needed to finalise the remaining 20 per cent issues concerning what he said was “a corridor for peace”.

“Under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s direction and promise, Pakistan is fully committed for materialising Kartarpur Sahib Corridor into reality for 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji… Pakistan is keen to welcome Sikh pilgrims at the Gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib,” Dr Faisal added.

During the talks India also expressed concerns regarding individuals and organisations based in Pakistan who may try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the sentiments of the pilgrims.

“The Pakistan side assured our delegation that no anti-India activity would be allowed,” the Indian government in a statement following the talks. “The importance of ensuring safe and secure environment for the pilgrims was underscored… A dossier was handed over to Pakistan side to highlight concerns in the matter,” the Indian government said.

Dr Faisal acknowledged that Pakistan had received a dossier listing those whom India does not want to be part of the project, but added that Pakistan has sent India 12 dossiers of its own but has not received a reply.

Sources on both sides said that a few more rounds of talks were needed to thrash out minute details and reach a final agreement.

Some of the issues that remain pending include India’s request to set up a consular office in Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara to provide assistance to pilgrims, particularly in emergency situations, construction of a bridge on the creek area of river Ravi for round the year access, and allowing 10,000 pilgrims on special occasions like Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary on November 2, 2019.

Dr Faisal said that work on Pakistan side is proceeding speedily and work on more than 70 per cent of the Gurdwara complex, terminal building and road has been completed.

The India government said that significant progress has been made to build state-of-the-art infrastructure, including passenger terminal on the Indian side that can handle over 15,000 pilgrims a day and work on the four-lane highway to the crossing point at the International Boundary is on schedule.

“The government is fully confident that India would be ready to commence the pilgrimage through Kartarpur corridor on the auspicious occasion of the 550th birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji,” ministry of external affairs said.

While discussing the bridge issue, India conveyed concerns regarding the possible flooding of the Dera Baba Nanak and adjoining areas on the Indian side as a result of a causeway proposed to be built by Pakistan on its territory. The Indian delegation shared detailed flood analysis with Pakistan to underscore these concerns.

However, highlighting infrastructural constraints on its side, Pakistan said that it may be able to accommodate many of the Indian proposals in a phased manner, an assurance that the Indian side did not like much.

Making its unhappiness on this issue evident, the Indian side urged Pakistan to reconsider its development plans for the corridor and make it fully functional by November 2, 2019.

Following hectic negotiations, officials said that Pakistan has in-principle agreed to build the bridge at the earliest after India offered to make interim arrangements so that the corridor is operational in November.

“Pakistan side agreed, in principle, to build a bridge at the earliest. Pending the construction of a bridge over the old Ravi creek by Pakistan on their territory, India offered to make interim arrangements for making the corridor operational in November 2019, given the historic importance of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji,” the Indian government said.

The Indian side also used to opportunity to once again raise the issue of encroachment of the land belonging to the Gurudwara and Pakistan authorities were asked to restore this land to the Gurudwara to honor religious sentiments. Pakistan side agreed to look into this issue.

The Indian delegation was led by S.C.L. Das, joint secretary, ministry of home affairs and included other officials from MHA as well as ministry of external affairs, ministry of defence, government of Punjab and the National Highway Authorities of India.

Pakistan’s 20-member delegation was headed by Dr Faisal, and foreign office’s director-general of South Asia.

Dr Faisal said that the Pakistani side planted a peace sapling but the Indian side could not participate because they were short on time and had to return to India.

Tags: kartarpur corridor, overseas citizenship of india