“Pilgrims wishing to travel through the corridor to visit the gurdwara can do so. As of now, the corridor is open,”
Kartarpur Corridor Remains Open Despite India Announcing Restrictions after terror attack, latest news
The Kartarpur Corridor, a visa-free border crossing and religious route between India and Pakistan, remains open for pilgrims, allowing Indian Sikh devotees to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, despite India’s announcement regarding the immediate shutdown of the Attari Integrated Check Post after the terror attack.
“Pilgrims wishing to travel through the corridor to visit the gurdwara can do so. As of now, the corridor is open,” The Indian Express reported, quoting Sohail Qasim Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), as confirming.
The Ministry of External Affairs recently announced several measures imposing travel restrictions. These include the closure of the Attari check post and the return of Pakistani nationals visiting India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme.
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, located in the Narowal district of Punjab, Pakistan, is one of the holiest sites in Sikhism. It is the place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, spent the last 18 years of his life and attained samadhi (spiritual union or death) in 1539.
The corridor was inaugurated on November 9, 2019, to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Kartarpur ended up in Pakistan, just about 4.7 km from the India-Pakistan border. Indian Sikhs could see the shrine from across the border but were unable to visit without a visa — which was often difficult to obtain.
The idea for a corridor had been proposed decades ago by Sikh leaders but gained significant momentum in the 2010s. In 2018, on the occasion of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary, India and Pakistan agreed to build the corridor.
The Kartarpur Corridor was officially opened on November 9, 2019, by both governments. Pilgrims from India can now travel directly to the gurdwara without a visa, though online registration is required.
