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The Kartarpur Corridor is a safe corridor through which Indian devotees can visit the Holy Darbar Sahib In Pakistan without a Visa. The milestone was reached in 2018 when India and Pakistan signed an agreement to allow Indian Sikhs to visit their holy shrines easily.
About Kartarpur Sahib Pilgrimage
In 2018 India and Pakistan signed a landmark agreement for the construction of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor that connects the Darbar sahib Gurudwara in the Narowal district of Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak temple in the Gurdaspur district in the Indian state of Punjab.
Kartarpur is a village situated on the west bank of the river Ravi where Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last 18 years of his life. Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak has located about 1 km from the Indo-Pakistan border and on the east bank of the river Ravi. West of the river is the city of Kartarpur in Pakistan. Gurudwara Shri Kartarpur Sahib is located in the Narowal district of Pakistan, about 4.5 km. From the international border near the historical city of Dera Baba Nanak, district Gurdaspur, Punjab. India part of Dera Baba Nanak- Shri Kartarpur sahib corridor covers 4.1 km. This city was built by the follower of Gurunanak Dev Ji and named Dera Baba Nanak after his great ancestor.
Features Of This Corridor:
- The agreement will ensure visa-free travels for Indian pilgrims.
- The list of shrines and holy places is fixed under the 1974 protocol of Visits to religious places according to which Indian and Pakistani citizens can visit the respective countries and their holy places.
- The agreement is valid for 5 years and can be terminated by either country with one month’s notice.
Why Kartarpur Sahib Pilgrimage Built
As part of the Delhi-Lahore bus diplomacy, the Kartarpur Corridor was proposed by the Prime Minister of India and Pakistan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif, respectively, in early 1999.
On 26 November 2018, the foundation was laid on the Indian side; Two days later, on 2 November 2018, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan did the same for the Pakistan side. The Kartarpur Corridor was completed on November 12, 2019, to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. Imran Khan said, “Pakistan believes that the path to prosperity of the region and the bright future of our coming generation lies in peace, he added that Pakistan is opening its heart not only to the border but also to the Sikh community.”
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the two countries decided to move the corridor to the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, he said that the project would help ease tensions between the two countries.
Why Did It Take So Long To Reach This Agreement
The historically strained relations between India and Pakistan- which has fought three wars since 1947. It has found it difficult to reach an agreement. The two countries first discussed the Kartarpur Corridor in 1998 and again in 2004 and 2008, but nothing concrete has ever happened.
The inauguration of the corridor comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between nuclear-armed neighbours.
What Is The Significance Of Kartarpur Corridor
It is considered to be one of the holiest for Sikhs, Compliance Indian people can only give. The sahib Corridor paved the way for peace and recognized the religious and cultural norms of both countries. It is also important in various other ways:
The pilgrims had to cover long distances and the gurdwara wanted to get all the documents and visas. Nanak Dev Ji’s preaching of cosmopolitanism in addressing the ideology of showing the way to harmony. The Corridor serves as a peace treaty between the two nations and promotes religious tolerance amidst all tensions.
Kartarpur Corridor Reopnens For Pilgrims
The centre has decided to reopen Kartarpur Corridor from Wednesday.
newsindianexpress.com
Amit Shah said the reopening of the Kartarpur Corridor will benefit a large number of Sikh pilgrims. ” The decision shows the Modi’s government’s great respect for Shri Gurunanak Dev Ji and our Sikh community. The country is all set to celebrate Shri Gurunanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Utsav on November 19 and I am sure that the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government to reopen the Kartarpur Shahib Corridor will bring joy and happiness across the country, said the Home Minister.
Disclaimer: All the content of this article is for information purposes only.
References
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