Jump to content

Kartarpur Corridor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Kartarpur corridor)

Kartarpur Corridor
Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India
Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
5km
3miles
Ravi river
Ravi river
Dera Baba Nank
Kartarpur
Kartarpur
Start and end points of the Kartarpur Corridor
Type of projectReligious
LocationKatarpur, Pakistan
Dera Baba Nanak, India
FounderAtal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif
Country
Established9 November 2019; 4 years ago (2019-11-09)
BudgetState Funded $88 million[1]
StatusOpen
Website
Kartarpur Corridor
Punjabi language
Gurmukhiਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਲਾਂਘਾ
Transliteration
kartārpur lāṅghā
Shahmukhiکَرْتار پُور لان٘گھا
Transliteration
kartār pūr lāṉghā
IPA/kəɾə̆.t̪äːɾə̆.puɾə̆ läː˦ŋɡ.ä/

The Kartarpur Corridor (Punjabi: ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਲਾਂਘਾ (Gurmukhi), کرتارپور لانگھا (Shahmukhi), romanized: kartārpur lāṅghā; Urdu: کرتارپور راہداری, romanized: kartār pūr rāhdārī) is a visa-free border crossing and religious corridor,[2][3] connecting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, near Narowal in Pakistan to Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India.[4][5][6][7] The crossing allows devotees from India to visit the gurdwara in Kartarpur, Pakistan, 4.7 kilometres (2.9 miles) from the India–Pakistan border on the Pakistani side without a visa.[8] However, Pakistani Sikhs are unable to use the border crossing, and cannot access Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side without first obtaining an Indian visa or unless they work there.[9]

The Kartarpur Corridor was first proposed in early 1999 by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan respectively at that time, as part of the Delhi–Lahore Bus diplomacy.[10][11]

On 26 November 2018, the foundation stone was laid down on the Indian side by Prime Minister Narendra Modi; two days later, then Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan did the same for the Pakistani side. The corridor was completed for the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, on 12 November 2019.[12] Khan said "Pakistan believes that the road to prosperity of region [sic] and bright future of our coming generation lies in peace", adding that "Pakistan is not only opening the border but also their hearts for the Sikh community".[13][14] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi compared the decision by the two countries to go ahead with the corridor to the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, saying that the project could help in easing tensions between the two countries.[15][16]

Previously, Sikh pilgrims from India had to take a bus to Lahore to get to Kartarpur, which is a 125 kilometres (78 miles) journey, even though people on the Indian side of the border could also physically see Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur from the Indian side, where an elevated observation platform was constructed.[17][18][19]

On 17 November 2021, the Kartarpur Corridor re-opened after over a year and a half of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both India and Pakistan have allowed citizens to visit the Gurdwara on the condition that they carry both a negative COVID-19 test and are fully vaccinated.[20][21]

Background

[edit]
Main article: Kartarpur, Pakistan

The first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, founded Kartarpur in 1504 CE on the right bank of the Ravi River and established the first Sikh commune there. Following his death in 1539, Hindus and Muslims both claimed him as their own and raised mausoleums in his memory with a common wall between them. The changing course of the Ravi River eventually washed away the mausoleums. A new habitation was formed, representing the present-day Dera Baba Nanak on the left bank of the Ravi river.[22][23][24][25]

After the 1947 partition of India, the region was divided between India and Pakistan. The Radcliffe Line awarded the Shakargarh tehsil on the right bank of the Ravi River, including Kartarpur, to Pakistan, and the Gurdaspur tehsil on the left bank of Ravi to India.[26][27] In 1948, the Akali Dal demanded that India should acquire the land of the gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur. The demands persisted till 1959, but the Punjab state government controlled by the Indian National Congress advised against any modification of the boundary fixed by the Radcliffe Award.[28]

For many years following partition, Indian Sikhs could visit Kartarpur informally by crossing the Jassar bridge (32°02′57″N 74°59′33″E / 32.04923°N 74.99242°E / 32.04923; 74.99242) on the Ravi river, as border controls between the two countries were not strictly enforced until 1965.[29] The bridge was destroyed by Pakistani forces during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 to inhibit potential Indian advances,[30][31] and border controls became more tightly regulated.

In 1969, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi promised to approach the Pakistani government for a land-swap so that Kartarpur Sahib could become part of India;[28] however, none of this materialised. In September 1974, a protocol was agreed between India and Pakistan for visits to religious shrines.[32] Around 2005, the protocol was updated by increasing the number of visits and the number of sites.[33] However, Kartarpur was not among the sites included in the 1974 protocol. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, India had requested its inclusion but this was not agreed to by Pakistan.[34][35]

Gobind Singh, the caretaker of the gurdwara at Kartarpur, said the gurdwara had "remained shut from 1947 to 2000".[36] The gurdwara had no staff, despite receiving pilgrims, and entrance was restricted. The Pakistani government started repairing the shrine in September 2000 ahead of the anniversary of Guru Nanak's death and formally reopened it in September 2004.[37] The Kartarpur Corridor mission was initially started by Bhabishan Singh Goraya, who pursued the cause for 24 years.[38]

According to Akali leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala, the gurdwara had been abandoned till 2003. It served as a cattle shed for the villagers and its lands were taken over by share-croppers.[28] Since 2003, however, the Pakistani government has reportedly taken initiatives for the upkeep of Sikh religious shrines.[39]

Recent initiatives

[edit]
Sri Dera Baba Nanak Sahib, in the Indian town of Dera Baba Nanak

During the tenure of Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the opening of Kartarpur border crossing was first discussed in 1998. After further discussions during the 1999 bus diplomacy, Pakistan renovated the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara, and made it available for viewing from the Indian border.[40][41] The tensions arising from the Kargil War had effectively destroyed India–Pakistan relations. However, it was reported that General Pervez Musharraf gave a 'green signal' for constructing a corridor, according to the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee chairman Lt.-Gen. Javed Nasir.[42]

Manmohan Singh, during his first term as the prime minister of India, also tabled the issue in a speech in Punjab in 2004.[10][11][43] The 'composite dialogue process' between India and Pakistan initiated in 2004 also discussed access to Kartarpur via an Amritsar–Lahore–Kartarpur road link.[40]

In 2008, the Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee raised with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi the idea of "visa-free travel" to Kartarpur.[10][35][44] There was apparently no official response, but privately, Pakistan began to express its openness to the Sikh community.[39][45][46] However, even up to 2012, the Indian government had no response.[35] The hostility between the countries was apparently to blame.[34][44]

On 20 June 2008, at a press conference in Dera Baba Nanak arranged by Akali leader Kuldeep Singh Wadala, John W. McDonald, a former American ambassador and founder of Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy, called for "a peace corridor, a peace zone" connecting shrines on both sides of the border.[47][48] On 28 June 2008, the Indian foreign minister at the time, Pranab Mukherjee, said that the Indian government would carry out a feasibility study for the peace corridor.[49][50] However, since the 2008 Mumbai attacks took place, the relations between India and Pakistan nosedived and the initiative faltered. Members of the Sikh community in Washington DC worked with the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy to carry out an independent feasibility study.[47] In August 2010, their report titled "Kartarpur Marg" was released by Surinder Singh and the Institute.[51][52] According to the report, the cost of the corridor would be 17 million US dollars, which the Sikh diaspora agreed to raise.[53][54] The report had said that it would cost Pakistan $14.8 million and India $2.2 million.[55] In November 2010, the Punjab state legislative assembly unanimously passed a resolution in favour of an international passage between the two sites and forwarded it to the Indian Union government on 1 October 2010.[56]

Corridor project

[edit]

In August 2018, the then Indian Punjab tourism minister Navjot Singh Sidhu attended the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's inaugural ceremony where he was told by the Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of Pakistan's willingness to open the Dera Baba Nanak–Kartarpur corridor on Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary. Given the clear time frame, this set the ball rolling.[57][44]

In August 2018, another resolution related to the corridor in the Indian Punjab Vidhan Sabha was moved by then chief minister Amarinder Singh, which was passed unanimously.[58] Following this the government of Indian Punjab decided to approach the prime minister of India related to the opening of the corridor. On 30 October 2018, a group of Sikh Americans sought the Indian prime minister's help in opening the corridor.[59] In November 2018, the Indian Cabinet approved the plan to set up the corridor and appealed to Pakistan to do the same. The Pakistani foreign minister S. M. Qureshi responded by tweeting that Pakistan had "already conveyed to India" that it would open a corridor.[11][55]

In August 2019, India and Pakistan agreed to allow visa-free travel of Indian citizens to Kartarpur, but differences persisted about Indian consular officers being located at the site.[60]

On 24 October 2019, S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry from India and Pakistan Foreign Office Director General South Asia and SAARC Mohammad Faisal met at Zero Point near Dera Baba Nanak in the border town of Gurdaspur to ink the memorandum of understanding. The signing of this agreement has paved the way for 5,000 Indian pilgrims to visit the holy site without a visa on a daily basis. Under the agreement, the pilgrims would come in the morning and return in the evening after visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.[61] Each visitor would be required to pay USD $20 as a service charge, which as per Pakistan Foreign Office's DG South Asia & SAARC Mohammad Faisal, would only cover one-third of the current operational cost. India however, had urged Pakistan to waive off the fees for pilgrims. In response, on 1 November 2019, Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan announced on Twitter that Sikh pilgrims coming from India for a pilgrimage to Kartarpur will not be charged any fee on the day of inauguration and on Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary on 12 November 2019.[62] The Pakistan government as a "special gesture" had also waived off the passport requirement for Kartarpur pilgrims extending up to one year. However, the Indian government decided against availing "concessions" announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan.[63] The Indian Ministry of External Affairs announced that passport would be required per the agreement between the two countries.[64][65]

In October 2024, India and Pakistan renewed their agreement to enable pilgrims through the corridor for an additional five-year period.[66]

Design of Gurudwara complex

[edit]

The Gurudwara complex will have an international standard hotel, hundreds of apartments, two commercial areas and two car parking lots, border facility area, a power grid station, tourist information centre and several offices. It also has a 13-bedded Medical Centre founded by Dr. Umair, a known physician of town. [67] Over 400 acres of land was acquired by the Pakistani government to establish the main complex and its surrounding areas. The main complex has been expanded 10 times from its original 4 acres to 42 acres. The masterplan of the complex has been prepared with visitors from countries other than India in mind.[68][69]

Construction

[edit]

In November 2018, foundation stones for the corridor were laid on the two sides of the border by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu respectively.[70][11][71]

Pakistan's Frontier Works Organization constructed 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) of dedicated expressway, including an 800-metre (2,600 ft) bridge over the River Ravi. An immigration office was also constructed, and Gurudwara Darbar Sahib premises was expanded to accommodate the incoming pilgrims.[72][73] The first phase of the construction of Kartarpur Corridor project was completed in early November 2019.[74]

Land Ports Authority of India, National Highways Authority of India and Ceigall India Ltd constructed the Indian side of the corridor.[75] A State-of-the-Art Integrated check post (ICP), 3.5 km four-lane highway and a 100-metre bridge at Dera Baba Nanak were constructed.[76][77]

Inauguration

[edit]
An Art installation at Indian side of Kartarpur Corridor, at Dera Baba Nanak
Entrance of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor (or Nanak Marg) from Indian side of border
Immigration Terminal on Pakistan side

On 9 November 2019, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor at a ceremony that was held in Gurdwara Darbar Sahib complex, Kartarpur and around 12,000 pilgrims were present on this ceremony.[78] Imran Khan received the pilgrims[79] and formally inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor by removing a curtain that was lifted by hot air balloons from a huge kirpan (dagger).[80] On the occasion, Prime Minister Khan said "Pakistan believes that the road to prosperity of region [sic] and bright future of our coming generation lies in peace, saying that today (9 November 2019) Pakistan is not only opening the border but also their hearts for the Sikh community."[13][14]

Ahead of Guru Nanak's 550th Prakash Purab celebrations, the corridor was open on 9 November 2019, facilitating the first Jatha (batch) of more than 550 pilgrims to travel to the final resting place of Guru Nanak.[81] Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the move and compared the decision for the corridor between the two countries to the fall of the Berlin Wall, saying that the project may help in easing tensions between the two countries.[15][16][82] During the inauguration speech, he also said, "I would like to thank the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan Niazi for respecting the sentiment of India."[83][84] Modi flagged off the pilgrimage and handed over the flag of the Jatha to Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh.[85][86]

Under the leadership of Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, the Jatha traveled through the corridor into Pakistan to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.[87] The Indian Sikh delegation that included former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the then Indian Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the then Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol arrived through Kartarpur Corridor to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak and attended the inauguration ceremony on the special invitation from the then Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.[88]

Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, speaking on the occasion, thanked both governments for corridor.[89] Navjot Singh Sidhu in his speech said that Prime Minister Khan had won the heart of Sikh community by opening the corridor. He mentioned that Alexander III of Macedon won the heart of people by fighting, while Khan won hearts of many Sikhs around the world by giving access to their holy land Kartarpur.[88] Earlier, however, the Indian government's denial of political clearance to Sidhu to visit Pakistan for the Kartarpur inauguration had snowballed into a last-moment controversy.[90] Poetry about Guru Nanak from Allama Iqbal's Bang-e-Dara was also read by former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and also by Pakistani speakers at inauguration.[91][92][93]

Security concerns and propaganda

[edit]

In November 2019, media reported that Indian security agencies had spotted alleged JeM terrorist training camp in the Narowal district, where the gurdwara is located.[94] The Foreign Office of Pakistan rebutted the Indian claims as baseless propaganda.[95][96]

In 2019, in a criticized act,[97] an unexploded bomb was placed on display inside the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara premises with an accompanying banner alleging that the Indian Air Force had dropped this bomb during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war on the gurdwara in an attempt to destroy it.[98] The Sikh pilgrims voiced their sentiments against any "dirty politics" in the name of the Guru.[99]

An unexploded bomb placed inside Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur
Bomb Banner inside Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur

Registration process

[edit]

The corridor does not require a visa to use, but an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) document is required, which can be obtained by registering an application at a dedicated website of the Indian government.[100] Even with a USD$20 fee waiver for all for two days I.e. November 9 and 12, initial turnout was low due to the complicated booking process and the fact that many Indian citizens lack passports.[101][102] Aam Aadmi Party,[103] BJP Indore MP Shankar Lalwani,[104] The former DSGMC president[105] and SGPC demanded that the Indian government simplify the process.[106]

Important conditions of travel include:

  • Only Indian passport holders or OCI card holders can travel by corridor, Pakistanis cannot.
  • Children or aged persons of all ages can register to apply.
  • After 15 days of travel by corridor another registration can be done for second visit.
  • Registration can only be done online at the above-mentioned website of the Indian government.[107]

Reception

[edit]

Lahore-based historian, Fakir S. Aijazuddin, characterised the corridor as a "unique experiment" in cross-border ties between India and Pakistan. He claimed that universality symbolised by Guru Nanak can bring the people of all religions together.[108] The corridor has been described as Guru Nanak's legacy project depicting his way of living life.[109] A special episode was dedicated to the corridor in the Hindi TV series Kullfi Kumarr Bajewala.[110] Sunny Deol stated that the corridor would help maintain peace between India and Pakistan.[111][112] Many Sikh pilgrims praised Pakistani PM Imran Khan and former Indian Punjab minister Sidhu, whom they gave credit for the corridor's opening.[99] The State Department of the United States also welcomed the opening of the corridor.[113]

In February 2020, following his visit to the site in Pakistan, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it as the “symbol of interfaith harmony” and “a corridor of hope, connecting two key Sikh pilgrimage sites.”[114]

Facilities

[edit]

RailTel Corporation of India launched the free RailWire Wi-Fi service to pilgrims at Dera Baba Nanak railway station and Integrated Check Post.[115] Jalandhar based Republic Motors provided six campus electric carts for travel of pilgrims from Integrated Check Post (ICP) to zero point.[116] On 8 November 2019, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced that the Government of Delhi will bear all expenses and cost of Kartarpur Sahib pilgrimage under Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana.[117][118]

Proposals for similar corridors

[edit]

There are several other proposals for opening of similar visa-free corridors to Sikh religious and historic places that are situated within 4 kilometers of international borders.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Rs13.2 bn to be spent on Gurdwara Kartarpur uplift". Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Pakistan opens visa-free border crossing for India Sikhs". gulfnews.com. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2022. Kartarpur, Pakistan: The prime ministers of India and Pakistan inaugurated on Saturday a visa-free border crossing for Sikh pilgrims from India, allowing thousands of pilgrims to easily visit a Sikh shrine just inside Pakistan each day.
  3. ^ Sevea, Iqbal. "The Kartarpur Corridor: Symbolism, Politics and Impact on India-Pakistan Relations" (PDF). Institute of South Asia Studies – National University of Singapore. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. The corridor is a border crossing that will connect two important Sikh shrines – Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in India and Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan – and provide access for Sikh pilgrims from Indian Punjab to Pakistani Punjab.
  4. ^ "India pilgrims in historic trip to Pakistan temple". 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2022. The Kartarpur corridor leads from the border straight to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, 4km (2.5 miles) away.
  5. ^ "Pakistan opens corridor to one Sikhism's holiest shrines". Catholic News in Asia | LiCAS.news | Licas News. 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022. It leads from the Pakistan-Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur the site where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak settled after his missionary work and where he spent the last 18 years of his life.
  6. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor agreement signed between Pakistan, India". Dunya News. 14 February 2008. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. The objective of this Agreement is to facilitate visa-free travel of Pilgrims from India to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan and back to India, through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
  7. ^ "Pakistan, India sign deal on visa-free corridor for Sikh pilgrims". France 24. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. The deal allows for a secure corridor and bridge between the two countries, leading directly to the grave of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, just four kilometres (two miles) from the Indian border.
  8. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor: Visa-free pilgrimage route a good confidence-building measure, but thaw in India-Pakistan ties still a mirage". Firstpost. 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  9. ^ "Allow Pak Sikhs to visit Dera Baba Nanak: Takht jathedar". Hindustan Times. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  10. ^ a b c Rana, Yudhvir (3 July 2012). SGPC demands government to take up Dera Baba Nanak-Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib corridor issue with Pakistan Archived 2 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine. The Times of India.
  11. ^ a b c d Roy, Shubhajit (2 December 2018). "The long road from Kartarpur to peace". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Imran Khan to open Kartarpur Corridor to India on November 9" Archived 9 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine gulfnews.com Retrieved 20 October 2019
  13. ^ a b "Kartarpur Corridor inauguration testimony of Pakistan's commitment to regional peace: PM". Business Recorder. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  14. ^ a b "PM Imran says Kartarpur Corridor testimony of Pakistan's commitment to regional peace". The News International. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Pakistan prime minister to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur corridor on Wednesday". The Times of India. PTI. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Pakistan PM Imran Khan to lay foundation stone of Kartarpur corridor today". Hindustan Times. 28 November 2018. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  17. ^ Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (15 August 2017). "A shrine so near, yet so far: Their prayers travel across border, they can't". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019.
  18. ^ Parashar, Sachin (23 November 2018). "Cabinet clears corridor for Kartarpur up to Pakistan border". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  19. ^ Haidar, Suhasini (25 November 2018). "Kartarpur marks a fresh start". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  20. ^ Kaur Sandhu, Kamaljit (16 November 2021). "Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Covid report, vaccine certificates must as pilgrimage set to reopen after 20 months". India Today. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Kartarpur corridor: आज से खुल रहा है करतारपुर कॉरिडोर, श्रद्धालुओं को इन नियमों का करना होगा पालन". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). 17 November 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  22. ^ Nesbitt, Eleanor M.; Kaur, Gopinder (May 1998), Guru Nanak, Bayeux Arts, p. 15, ISBN 978-1-896209-27-2
  23. ^ Singh, Jagraj (2009), A Complete Guide to Sikhism, Unistar Books, p. 211, ISBN 978-81-7142-754-3
  24. ^ Singha, H. S. (2000), The Encyclopedia of Sikhism, Hemkunt Press, p. 59, ISBN 978-81-7010-301-1
  25. ^ "Guru Nanak Sahib". Sgpc.net. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  26. ^ Jha, Rival Versions of History 1996, p. 81: Mountbatten sent a query to the Secretary of State for India, Lord Listowell, asking what 'other factors' might mean. Listowell... replied that these were entirely for the Punjab Boundary Commissioners to decide. However, he said, "other factors must include the location of Sikh shrines'. This looks very much like a directive to the Radcliffe Commission. Sir Cyril certainly paid heed to it, but not unduly at Pakistan's expense."
  27. ^ Yadav, V.; Sharma, H. (2015), "Disaster Management in Border Sensitive Area: Case Study of Amritsar District", in Huong Ha; R. Lalitha S. Fernando; Amir Mahmood (eds.), Strategic Disaster Risk Management in Asia, Springer, p. 216, ISBN 978-81-322-2373-3
  28. ^ a b c Access first promised in 1969 Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Tribune, 28 November 2018.
  29. ^ Ghosh, Partha S. (23 May 2016). Migrants, Refugees and the Stateless in South Asia. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 9789351508533. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  30. ^ Bajwa, Farooq (2013), From Kutch to Tashkent: The Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, London: C. Hurst & Co, p. 257, ISBN 978-1-84904-230-7, archived from the original on 21 April 2021, retrieved 21 April 2021
  31. ^ Maini, Tridivesh Singh. "Punjab: Can It Be a Bridge to Peace Between India and Pakistan?". ORF. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  32. ^ Kulwant Rai Gupta (2006), India-Pakistan Relations with Special Reference to Kashmir, Atlantic Publishers & Dist, pp. 466–467, ISBN 978-81-269-0271-2
  33. ^ Katyal, Krishan Kumar (2006), Journey to Amity: India and Musharraf's Pakistan, Har-Anand Publications, p. 290, ISBN 978-81-241-1119-2
  34. ^ a b Devirupa Mitra, At Kartarpur Ceremony, Imran Khan Emphasises Cooperation, Says Army on 'Same Page' Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Wire, 28 November 2018.
  35. ^ a b c Parliamentary Debates: Official Report, Council of States Secretariat, 2012, p. 63: "In 2005, Government had proposed to Pakistan the inclusion of Kartarpur Sahib in the list of shrines under the bilateral 'Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines-1974. During the meeting between External Affairs Minister and the Foreign Minister of Pakistan on June 27, 2008 it was also proposed to Pakistan side that a stall (?) team from India could visit Pakistan to discuss the modalitics for visa free travel through a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in Pakistan. However, no response has been received from Pakistan side till date."
  36. ^ Footprints: The borders of man Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Dawn, 18 September 2018.
  37. ^ "Before Kartarpur Corridor, a struggle of five decades to reopen, restore gurdwara". The Indian Express. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  38. ^ Goraya, BS (23 August 2018). "Kartarpur corridor mission for 24 yrs, he now sees hope". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  39. ^ a b Pakistan open to ‘visa-free’ Sikh pilgrimage Archived 10 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, The Indian Express, 16 April 2008.
  40. ^ a b Kartarpur to lessen Pakistan-India tension Archived 31 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The News International, 27 November 2018.
  41. ^ Pakistan gives nod to Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, agrees to open border next year Archived 11 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine, One India, 23 November 2018.
  42. ^ Varinder Walia (16 November 2000), "Pak nod for corridor to shrine", The Tribune, archived from the original on 10 June 2012, retrieved 30 December 2018
  43. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor, All You Need To Know: Top 10 Facts". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  44. ^ a b c New Delhi, Islamabad Jostle for Credit as Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Gets Green Signal Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Wire, 22 November 2018.
  45. ^ "TeriSikhi welcomes Pakistan offer to open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for Sikh pilgrims". Punjab Newsline Network. San Ramon, California. 27 June 2010. Archived from the original on 1 January 2011.
  46. ^ "Pakistan ready for corridor". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  47. ^ a b McDonald, Multi-Track Diplomacy 2011, pp. 72–74McDonald, John (2011), "Multi-Track Diplomacy—lts Origins and Some of Its Accomplishments", in Zachariah Cherian Mampilly (ed.), Peacemaking: From Practice to Theory, ABC-CLIO, pp. 73–, ISBN 978-0-313-37576-7, archived from the original on 14 December 2023, retrieved 11 December 2018
  48. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab". www.tribuneindia.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  49. ^ "Feasibility study on corridor to Kartarpur Sahib: Mukherjee". Outlook India. 28 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  50. ^ Eddie Walsh (23 August 2011). "Bridging the Sikh Divide". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  51. ^ Singh, Surinder (8 August 2010). Kartarpur Marg. Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy. ISBN 9780615400044. Archived from the original on 19 March 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  52. ^ "Blueprint for peace corridor between India and Pakistan". www.thefreelibrary.com. ANI (Asian News International). 20 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  53. ^ "NRIs pitch for early construction of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor". The Indian Express. 6 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  54. ^ "Dera Baba Nanak- Kartarpur Sahib corridor to cost $17 million: Institute of Multi Track Diplomacy report – Times of India". The Times of India. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  55. ^ a b "Cabinet clears corridor for Kartarpur up to Pakistan border". The Times of India. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  56. ^ Bagga, Neeraj (27 November 2011). "Set up Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur corridor". Tribune India. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  57. ^ "Navjot Singh Sidhu justifies hugging General Bajwa, says he felt love from Pakistan side". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  58. ^ "Punjab Vidhan Sabha passes unanimous resolution demanding corridor to Kartarpur Sahib". The Indian Express. 28 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  59. ^ "Sikh-Americans seek PM Modi's help over for Kartarpur Sahib Corridor". The Indian Express. 30 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  60. ^ "India and Pakistan fail to finalise agreement on Kartarpur corridor". Hindustan Times. 4 September 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  61. ^ "Pakistan, India ink historic Kartarpur Corridor pact". The Express Tribune. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  62. ^ "Pak won't charge $20 from Indian pilgrims visiting Kartarpur on Nov 9, 12". Business Standard India. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019 – via Business Standard.
  63. ^ "FO regrets India's refusal to avail concessions for Sikh pilgrims". Dawn. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  64. ^ "Passports needed for Kartarpur, will go by MoU: India". Live Mint. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2019.
  65. ^ "Pakistan PM Imran Khan Says No Fee For Indian Sikhs On Kartarpur Corridor Opening Day". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  66. ^ Momand, Abdullah (22 October 2024). "Pakistan, India renew Kartarpur Corridor Agreement for 5-year term: FO". DAWN.
  67. ^ Iqrar, Agha (18 March 2019). "Design and map of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur Corridor Complex". dnd.com.pk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
  68. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor project: Everything you need to know". Dunya News TV online. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  69. ^ "Kartarpur corridor masterplan and land acquisition". Evacuee Trust Property Board. Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  70. ^ "Lays Foundation For Kartarpur Corridor" Archived 21 October 2019 at the Wayback Machine hindustantimes.com Retrieved 28 November 2018
  71. ^ "Vice President Of India Lays Foundation For Kartarpur Corridor" Archived 11 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, kartarpurcorridor.com, Retrieved 26 November 2018
  72. ^ "Kartarpur corridor opening for India's Sikhs in November". DAWN.COM. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 6 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  73. ^ "PTI govt seeks PPRA waiver for Kartarpur Corridor construction". The Express Tribune. 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  74. ^ "First phase of Kartarpur Corridor project completed". The Express Tribune. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  75. ^ "Indian part of Kartarpur corridor begins with 4-laning launch". The Times of India. 6 April 2019. Archived from the original on 3 November 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  76. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor: 4-lane highway, bridge work completed". The Times of India. 3 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  77. ^ Dhaliwal, Ravi (2 October 2019). "Opening sans Pak bridge". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  78. ^ "Pakistan PM Imran Khan inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor". 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  79. ^ "India-Pakistan: First pilgrims make new border crossing to Sikh temple". DW.COM. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  80. ^ "Hundreds of Indian Sikhs make historic pilgrimage to Pakistan". Arab News. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  81. ^ "Pakistan Opens Visa-Free Border Crossing for Indian Sikh Pilgrims". Voice of America. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  82. ^ Singh, Akhilesh (10 November 2019). "PM Modi invokes anniversary of Berlin Wall fall & Kartarpur, says time to move on". The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  83. ^ "'Thank Imran Khan for respecting India's sentiments': PM Modi at inauguration of Kartarpur Corridor". DNA India. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  84. ^ Kartarpur corridor: PM Modi thanks Imran Khan Niazi for understanding India's sentiment, 9 November 2019, archived from the original on 23 October 2020, retrieved 10 November 2019
  85. ^ "Indian PM Modi inaugurates Kartarpur corridor, flags off first batch of pilgrims". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  86. ^ "Scholar of Many Faiths, RSS Critic: Meet the Akal Takht Jathedar Leading Sikh Pilgrims to Kartarpur". News18. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  87. ^ "Akal Takht chief to lead first jatha". Hindustan Times. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  88. ^ a b "'This is the beginning': PM Imran inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor on historic day". Dawn. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  89. ^ "Kartarpur Sahib Opening Ceremony: Dal Khalsa Praises Giani Harpreet Singh, Slams Amarinder Singh". Sikh Siyasat News. 10 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  90. ^ Roche, Elizabeth (7 November 2019). "Row erupts over seeming denial of political clearance to Sidhu to visit Pakistan for Kartarpur inauguration". Mint. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  91. ^ "Sikhs make it to holy shrine : PM opens Kartarpur Corridor". AAJ News. Archived from the original on 25 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  92. ^ "Difficult questions stare at us, Guru Nanak's teachings can save us: Manmohan". Hindustan Times. 6 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  93. ^ "What Allama Iqbal's poetry can teach us about Guru Nanak". www.dailyo.in. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  94. ^ Terror camps in district that houses Kartarpur gurdwara: Intel Archived 6 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, The Times of India, 4 November 2019.
  95. ^ PTI, Pakistan rejects reports about presence of terror camps near Kartarpur in Narowal district Archived 5 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine, India Today, 5 November 2019.
  96. ^ "Pakistan rejects baseless allegation of 'terror camps' near Kartarpur". The Express Tribune. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  97. ^ Khwaja, Farah (13 November 2019). "Why is a bomb on display at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib?". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  98. ^ "Pakistan army places 'bomb' in Kartarpur Gurudwara to instigate Sikhs against India". DNA India. 7 November 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  99. ^ a b "We have come to pray, won't tolerate any political propaganda: Sikh pilgrims in Kartarpur". The Indian Express. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019. While many praised Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and former Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, whom they credited for the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, they were all unequivocal in their sentiments that there should not be any "dirty politics" in the Guru's name.
  100. ^ "PILGRIMAGE TO KARTARPUR SAHIB". prakashpurb550.mha.gov.in. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  101. ^ "Low Kartarpur corridor turnout: 'Complicated' booking process blamed". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  102. ^ "Only 700 cross over by Kartarpur Corridor despite fee waiver on Parkash Purab". Hindustan Times. 12 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  103. ^ "AAP demands lifting of passport condition for 'darshan-e-didar' of Kartarpur Sahib". United News of India. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  104. ^ "Waiver of passport requirement for Kartarpur pilgrims sought". India Today. Press Trust of India. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  105. ^ Singh, IP (14 November 2019). "Former DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK writes to PM, seeks simplification of process to go to Kartarpur". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  106. ^ "Simplify Online Registration Process for Kartarpur Sahib Visit, SGPC Says Amid Low Pilgrim Turnout". News18. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  107. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor online booking: Steps to apply, check application status". Business Standard India. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 19 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  108. ^ Suhasini Haidar,  Amidst euphoria amongst pilgrims, officials worry about Kartarpur logistics Archived 10 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine, The Hindu, 29 December 2018.
  109. ^ Shah Singh, Harmeet (10 November 2019). "Kartarpur not just a gurdwara – it's Guru Nanak's legacy project". India Today. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  110. ^ "Kulfi Kumar Bajewala: Kulfi heads to Kartarpur and offers prayers to get Sidanker back to her". PINKVILLA. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  111. ^ ""Kartarpur Will Help Maintain Peace Between India, Pakistan": Sunny Deol". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  112. ^ Taneja, Parina (12 November 2019). "Sunny Deol receives special welcome at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur; check latest photos". India TV. Archived from the original on 13 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  113. ^ "US welcomes Kartarpur corridor opening". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 10 November 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019. The State Department welcomes the opening of a new border crossing between India and Pakistan, the Kartarpur corridor. We see this as a positive example of neighbours working together for mutual benefit. The newly opened corridor is a step towards promoting greater religious freedom
  114. ^ "UN Chief Hails New Pakistan-India Crossing as 'Corridor of Hope'". Voice of America. 18 February 2020.
  115. ^ "Big boost for Kartarpur Corridor pilgrims! Indian Railways provides free WiFi at Dera Baba Nanak station, ICP". The Financial Express. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  116. ^ "Electric Vehicles Make Their Way To Kartarpur Corridor". Inc42 Media. 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  117. ^ "All expenses for Kartarpur pilgrimage from Delhi govt". Deccan Herald. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 15 November 2019. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  118. ^ "AAP govt. to bear cost of Kartarpur pilgrimage: CM". The Hindu. 13 November 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  119. ^ "Allow Pak Sikhs to visit Dera Baba Nanak: Takht jathedar". Hindustan Times. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  120. ^ a b c d e Khalid, Haroon (30 November 2018). "Kartarpur: Along world's most dangerous border, these gurdwaras could be made part of peace corridor". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  121. ^ a b c d e Khalid, Haroon (13 December 2018). "5 gurdwaras that could be made part of Kartarpur Corridor". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 10 October 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  122. ^ "Kartarpur Corridor Construction Underway, But No Word on Access to Sharda Peeth Temple in PoK". News18. 21 July 2019. Archived from the original on 11 November 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  123. ^ "Pakistan may open up Sharda Peeth for Indian pilgrims". The Times of India. 26 March 2019. Archived from the original on 18 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  124. ^ "No decision taken on opening of Sharda Peeth corridor: Pakistan". Kashmir Images Newspaper. Press Trust of India. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  125. ^ "Dreaming of peace dividends: Revival of Shimla-Murree linkages – Aman Ki Asha". Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  126. ^ "Dreaming of peace dividends: Revival of Shimla-Murree linkages – The Wire". Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kartarpur Corridor.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kartarpur_Corridor&oldid=1256093057"