India on Saturday said that it will make a decision to open the Kartarpur corridor in accordance with COVID-19 protocol and easing of restrictions. It is to be noted that Pakistan reopened Kartarpur Corridor on its sides and is waiting for India's confirmation for the recommencement of travelling through the Kartarpur corridor.
India on Saturday said that it will make a decision to open the Kartarpur corridor in accordance with COVID-19 protocol and easing of restrictions. It is to be noted that Pakistan reopened Kartarpur Corridor on its sides and is waiting for India's confirmation for the recommencement of travelling through the Kartarpur corridor.
"We remain in touch with all concerned authorities including Ministries of Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare. A decision on re-opening of Kartarpur corridor would be taken in accordance with COVID protocol and easing of restrictions," the Ministry of External Affairs said in the statement.
The Ministry`s reaction comes after Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs on Friday issued a notification saying that Indian visitors are allowed to come to visit Kartarpur Gurdwara daily from dawn to dusk as per the bilateral agreement made in 2019 between India and Pakistan.
New Delhi also pointed out that Islamabad is yet to construct a bridge at the Budhi-Ravi channel that was decided by both sides at the time of opening of the Kartarpur Corridor last year.
"At the time of opening of the Kartarpur Corridor last year and in the bilateral agreement signed in October 2019, it was decided that both sides shall establish requisite infrastructure including construction of a bridge at Budhi Ravi Channel," the statement further said.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kartarpur Corridor was shut down by the Indian government in March. Pakistan`s government had also imposed a ban on Pakistani nationals from travelling via the Kartarpur corridor.
India and Pakistan had on October 24, 2019, signed the agreement connecting Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. With the signing of this agreement, a formal framework was laid down for operationalisation of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Indian side of the corridor on November 9, 2019, and flagged off the first 'jatha' of 500 pilgrims who visited the Kartarpur Gurudwara. The first batch of pilgrims included former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and several other eminent Sikh politicians including MPs and MLAs from Punjab were also part of the first batch.
Kartarpur Gurudwara has a huge significance in Sikhism since Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last 18 years of his life in the area where the Gurudwara stands now.
(With ANI inputs)
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