In response to Pakistan’s offer reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, India indicated that the country was trying to create a “mirage of goodwill,” at a time that cross-border travel has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is to be noted that Pakistan is trying to create a mirage of goodwill by proposing to resume Kartarpur corridor on 29 June, at the short notice of 2 days, while bilateral Agreement provides for information to be shared by India with Pakistan side at least 7 days before the date of travel. This would need India to open up the registration process well in advance,” sources in the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The official sources further added that a decision would be taken in consultation with health authorities and other stakeholders concerned.
The corridor was closed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak in March.
“As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan tweeted on Saturday, 27 June.
The Home Ministry of India had suspended the pilgrimage and registration for Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan from 16 March in view of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The government had also suspended movement of all passengers through international border points with Pakistan.
The corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab with Kartarpur Sahib gurudwara in Pakistan was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi In November.
Indian pilgrims of all faiths are allowed to undertake round the year visa-free travel to the historic gurudwara, the final resting place of founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev ji.
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