Development on Kartarpur corridor not in response to Pak proposal, clarifies India

India has clarified that the resolution on the Kartarpur Corridor project was passed by the Union Cabinet after months of deliberation, and not in response to Pakistan's proposal.

Sources privy to the matter said that any suggestion that the corridor or the celebrations are being planned as a response to a Pakistani proposal is not only preposterous, but hurtful to the sentiments of the Sikh community.

The Union Cabinet passed the resolution on the Kartarpur Corridor- from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to India-Pakistan International Border - after many weeks of internal consultations and preparation within the government earlier in the day. The resolution is a comprehensive document that contains detailed information on the plans for the celebration of 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, not just on the corridor.

The source informed that India has asked for the Kartarpur corridor to be opened 365 days in a year for 24 hours. It has also called for removing restrictions, if any, on the number of pilgrims that are travelling across the border. There must be free and readily available consular access for Indian citizens on the Pakistani side, it added.

Sources further claimed that despite the harassment that pilgrims face on the Pakistani side though the display of Khalistani posters or lack of access to consular officials, Sikh pilgrims continue to make the difficult journey. In this regard, India has put forth the measures to ease the burden on pilgrims, the source added.

It may be noted that Pakistan had ignored India's demand for the Kartarpur corridor for over 20 years as it has been a long-standing demand from the Indian side, sources have learnt.

The revelations come on the same day that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a note verbale to Pakistan, urging the country to improve infrastructure and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in its territory from the International Border to Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib in order to facilitate easier access and smooth passage of India pilgrims through the year.

Following this, the Pakistani side notified that the Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would be laying the foundation stone for the other half of the Kartarpur corridor in its territory on November 28 on Thursday.