Visa-free travel for 5,000 pilgrims daily

Sandeep Dikshit

Tribune News Service

Wagah, July 14

Pakistan and India today agreed on allowing yearlong, visa-free access to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara for 5,000 pilgrims every day. As part of the agreement reached at the second round of official-level talks at Wagah, Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders will be allowed to use the corridor.

However, Pakistan said it would implement most of these measures in a phased manner, citing infrastructure constraints.

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Sources said two or three more rounds of talks would be needed to clinch the final agreement, especially on the bridge over the Ravi creek, essential to make the pilgrimage an all-weather affair.

Pakistan has agreed in-principle to build the bridge at the earliest, said the Ministry of External Affairs, with India offering to make interim arrangements so that the corridor is operational when celebrations begin in November for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. 

The meeting began with slide presentations by both sides. India sought visa-free and no-cost access seven days a week to 5,000 pilgrims of all faiths, including those holding Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) cards. The Indian multi-ministry delegation was led by SCL Das, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.

What has emerged so far is the pilgrims will be allowed visa-free travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot only during the day. Sources say the modalities regarding 5,000 pilgrims daily and 10,000 on special occasions, the fee (India wants it free) and the issue of a bridge will be negotiated in the subsequent meetings. The Pakistan side refused to divulge details about the meeting on the grounds that discussions are still ongoing. “Eighty per cent of the issues have been agreed upon and further information will only be shared after the agreement is finalised,” said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shah Mohamed Faisal.

Most of the information that came in after the meeting was through a press release by the Indian delegation for the talks and its slightly modified version put out by the MEA.

The Indian side was not satisfied by Pakistan’s assurance to implement most of the issues in a phased manner and requested it to reconsider its development plans for the corridor to get it fully functional by November. It also wanted Pakistan to allow

10,000 pilgrims in November on Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary. There has been no response from the Pakistan side on India’s request for a consular office at Nankana Sahib to attend to emergencies faced by Indian pilgrims. Pakistan offered to look into complaints of encroachments around Gurdwara Nankana Sahib that were raised by India on the basis of representations it has received. India also wanted Pakistan to facilitate a ‘nagar kirtan’ from Delhi to Nankana Sahib this month and again in October/November. It will be organised by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

Will meet deadlines: MHA

• October 31: Rs 500-cr Passenger Terminal Complex at Dera Baba Nanak to be completed
• September 30: Four-lane road from Gurdaspur-Amritsar Highway to Zero Point to be ready
• November: 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev is by when the govt wants infra to be in place