Kartarpur Corridor Stays Open For Pilgrims Even As India Revokes Pakistani Visas And Ties Tighten

Amid soaring tensions betwixt India and Pakistan aft nan Pahalgam panic attack, nan Kartarpur corridor astatine Dera Baba Nanak successful Punjab’s Gurdaspur territory remains unfastened for pilgrims. The corridor, linking Dera Baba Nanak shrine successful India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib successful Pakistan, the last resting spot of Guru Nanak Dev, continues to invited visitors contempt heightened information concerns.

Devotees connected Friday continued their travel to connection prayers astatine nan historical gurdwara. Several pilgrims stressed nan value of keeping nan corridor open. "The corridor should stay unfastened for pilgrims," said a Sikh devotee from Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar district. A female pilgrim echoed nan sentiment, urging authorities not to unopen nan route.

Pilgrims besides condemned nan Pahalgam panic attack, wherever 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed aft terrorists opened occurrence astatine a meadow adjacent nan celebrated municipality successful southbound Kashmir’s Anantnag district. They demanded strict action against nan perpetrators.

The Kartarpur corridor, operational since November 9, 2019, connected nan 550th commencement day of Guru Nanak Dev, allows Indian pilgrims of each faiths visa-free entree to nan gurdwara passim nan year. As per nan statement betwixt India and Pakistan, up to 5,000 pilgrims tin sojourn daily.

Meanwhile, nan Indian authorities announced a bid of beardown measures pursuing nan Pahalgam attack. These see expelling Pakistani subject attaches, suspending nan 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, and instantly shutting down nan Attari land-transit post. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri besides confirmed that Pakistani nationals nether nan SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme were fixed 48 hours to time off India.

Additionally, nan integrated check-post astatine Attari was closed, pinch those who crossed into Pakistan advised to return by May 1. On Thursday, nan Centre revoked each visas issued to Pakistani nationals effective April 27 and urged Indians domiciled successful Pakistan to return home.

Published on: Apr 26, 2025 7:39 AM IST