India-Pakistan: How Long Can Indian Pilgrims Visit Kartarpur Corridor? Check Full Details Here

On Tuesday, India and Pakistan reached an agreement to continue operating the Kartarpur Corridor for another five years. This corridor allows Indian pilgrims to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara situated in Pakistan.

The project has survived the dramatic decline in India-Pakistan ties. It was first presented as a Confidence Building Measure under former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Kartarpur Corridor Extended for 5 More Years

According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Ministry of External Affairs, "the Agreement, signed on 24 October 2019 to facilitate the visit of pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, was valid for a period of five years." The extension until 2029 would guarantee "uninterrupted operation of the Corridor for use by the pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan."

The renewal was announced a week after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the first foreign minister to visit Pakistan, after a period of 9 years, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, met briefly with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Kartarpur Agreement Renewed, Fee Stays

Mr. Jaishankar posted on social media to announce the agreement's renewal, stating that the Narendra Modi administration will "continue to facilitate our Sikh community's access to their holy sites."

New Delhi failed to persuade Pakistan to remove the $20 (about ₹1,680) service fee it charges per pilgrim, despite the fact that the successful conclusion of the renewal talks shows that the lines of communication between the two nations remain open.

How Pakistan Justifies Pilgrim Fees?

Pakistan says it needs to charge fees because it has covered most of the $17 million cost for upgrading the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara. This includes building a road, bridge, and providing transport for pilgrims from the India-Pakistan border.

Pakistani officials shared with The Hindu that they are disappointed by the low number of pilgrims visiting. While Pakistan allows up to 5,000 pilgrims per day, currently only a few hundred are visiting daily.

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