The Kartarpur Corridor, connecting the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, is set to reopen for pilgrims on Tuesday as the flood-situation eased near the India-Pakistan border.
The reopening of Kartarpur will assist thousands of devotees, largely Sikhs, to visit the final resting place of Guru Nanak in Pakistan.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Amarinder Singh said his government would be happy to work in conjunction with the Centre to ensure adherence to proper Covid-19 protocols, including testing and vaccination of pilgrims using the corridor.
The Corridor was temporarily closed by the Indian government on March 16 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
India and Pakistan in October 2019 signed an agreement to operationalise the Kartarpur Corridor to allow Indian pilgrims a visa-free visit to the holy gurdwara, believed to have been built on the site where Guru Nanak died in the 16th century, and located some 4 km inside Pakistan.
'The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor and promotion of religious tourism also coincides with your objective of Violence-Free World.' the letter read.
The announcement comes after reports in the Pakistani media, quoting a spokesperson of the Pakistani army’s media wing, that Indian pilgrims will be allowed entry under a 'permit on a passport-based identity'.
In a letter to Union MEA minister S Jaishankar, Sidhu said in case permission to the Pakistan invitation is not granted, he would cross the border as a pilgrim.
On Monday too, the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh directed the police to remain on high alert following recent attempts by hardliners, backed by separatist forces in Punjab and other countries, to create trouble in the state.
Meanwhile, posters of Navjot Singh Sidhu and Pakistan PM Imran Khan also mysteriously surfaced in Amritsar, describing the two as 'real heroes'.
