Pakistan has renewed its agreement with India for an additional five years, allowing Indian pilgrims to access Gurudwara Kartarpur via the visa-free corridor. Originally signed on October 24, 2019, the agreement was set to expire on October 24, 2024, but was extended ahead of its expiration, as announced by the Pakistani foreign office on Tuesday.
The renewal underscores Pakistan’s commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence. It enables Indian pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, where Sikhism’s founder, Baba Guru Nanak, spent his final days. Since its inception, the corridor has facilitated thousands of worshippers to visit this sacred site without the need for a visa.
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The foreign office highlighted that the Kartarpur Corridor meets the long-standing aspirations of the Sikh community for access to their revered religious landmark. It reflects Pakistan’s recognition of the importance of safeguarding the rights of religious minorities.
The initiative has garnered international praise, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling it a “Corridor of Hope.” The Kartarpur Corridor, inaugurated in November 2019 by then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, was the first visa-free corridor established between the two nations, significantly easing the pilgrimage process.
Despite the positive intentions behind the corridor, its full potential has been hampered by India’s strict regulations for its pilgrims. Nevertheless, the renewal indicates Pakistan’s desire to continue facilitating visits to Kartarpur Sahib.
This development follows a recent visit by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Islamabad for the SCO summit, where informal interactions with Pakistani leaders occurred without any major incidents.
