Kartarpur Corridor - 2nd round talks held between India & Pakistan

Source :- WION News

The Kartarpur Corridor is a proposed border corridor between the neighbouring nations of India and Pakistan, connecting the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib (located in Punjab, India) and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (in Punjab, Pakistan).

The project, which is a gateway for pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan and is scheduled to be completed by 31 October, could improve ties between the two countries & will be completed before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019.

On 26 November 2018, the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor was laid down on the Pakistan side. Two days later the foundation stone for the corridor was laid down on the India side.

2nd Round of discussions on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor :-

Pakistan on Sunday assured India “full cooperation" for the Kartarpur Corridor as the two nations embarked on a second round of talks on the project.

India urged Pakistan to take into consideration the sentiments of the pilgrims to have smooth, easy, unrestricted access throughout the year to be able to visit the Holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib. 
In this context, the following requests were reiterated: 

• 5,000 pilgrims be allowed to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor everyday given the expected high demand on our side
• 10,000 additional pilgrims be allowed to visit on special occasions
• There should be no restrictions on the pilgrims in terms of their faith
• Not only Indian nationals, but also the Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) holding OCI cards be allowed to use the Kartarpur Corridor facility
• The movement should be visa free and Pakistan should reconsider charging any fee or introducing any permit system
• Pilgrims should be allowed to visit throughout the year, seven days a week
• Pilgrims should have the choice to visit as individuals or in a group
• Pilgrims should have the choice to visit on-foot on pilgrimage to the holy shrine
• Provisions should be made for preparation and distribution of langar and prasad for the pilgrims

Concerns shared :-

• India had red-flagged concerns of flooding in the corridor, which runs parallel to the Ravi river in Pakistan. Both ministries asserted on Saturday that India was building a bridge to avert any disaster, but Pakistan had only agreed to construct a “causeway" by way of building an embankment and said that was unlikely to prevent flooding. Pakistan had been asked strictly to not construct the causeway even in the interim
• A dossier was handed over to Pakistan side to highlight concerns regarding security aspect of the pilgrimage
• Concerns were also shared regarding individuals or organisations based in Pakistan who may try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity to play with the sentiments of the pilgrims.
• The Indian delegation has also sought consular presence in Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara to be able to provide assistance to the pilgrims, if required.