Pak mulls opening Sharada Peeth corridor inside PoK

Following successful negotiations over opening the Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan may also start a new corridor for Indian pilgrims to visit the revered Sharada Peeth in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Pakistan government sources said the foreign ministry has submitted a report to PM Imran Khan for consultations on opening up a corridor. Indian government sources, meanwhile, said New Delhi has made this request several times as part of the Composite Dialogue between the two countries.

Speaking in Parliament in December 2018, minister of state in the External Affairs Ministry, VK Singh, said, "The issue of religious tourism to PoK has been raised from time to time. India has proposed pilgrims' visit to shrines in PoK, including Sharada Peeth. Pakistan hasn't concurred with the proposal yet."

In response to a question by an Indian journalist on the proposed corridor, Imran Khan had said, "For Hindu pilgrims, we will make things easy. We will encourage it."

While it's only just a proposal and the green signal is a distant dream, the consultation process is ongoing. Other stakeholders, especially the all-powerful Pakistan army, are also yet to weigh in on the issue.

Welcoming the development, Ravindra Pandita of the 'Save Sharada' committee said, "I am elated at the developments. The seat of learning of Adi Shankaracharya, last occupied by Swami Nand Lalji, a Kashmiri saint, will come alive again. The yatra will resume after 70 years. As head of the committee, I thank officials of both nations for this historic moment."

Tanveer Ahmed, an independent researcher and public policy activist from PoK, told WION, "It would be the most significant pro-life measure taken in this region since the end of the British Raj.”

Sharada Peeth

• Sharada Peeth is an ancient seat of learning in the Neelam Valley district.
• The last time a pilgrimage happened here was in 1946.
• Special NOCs are required to visit the area which remains in PoK. 
• The news comes as the two countries work on the Kartarpur corridor