India issues note verbale to Pak on Kartarpur corridor

The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday issued a Note Verbale to the Pakistani government urging it to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in its territory from the International Border to Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib in order to facilitate easier access and smooth passage of India pilgrims through the year.

The Note Verbale comes shortly after the Union Cabinet of India, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, passed a resolution to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, which falls in the year 2019, throughout the country and across the globe, in a grand manner. During the meeting, it was decided that the Indian government will also urge the Government of Pakistan to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well.

"The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India presents its compliments to the High Commission for the Islamic Republic o Pakistan in New Delhi and has the honour to refer to the longstanding proposal to create a corridor to facilitate easy and smooth access for Indian pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, which has been under discussion between the two sides. The Ministry has the honour to convey that on the occasion of the 550th Prakash Parab of Guru Nanak Devji, the Government of India has decided to build and develop 'Karatarpur Corridor' from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district in India to the International Border. In this context, the Government of India urges the Government of Pakistan to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in its territory from the International Border to Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib to facilitate easier access and smooth passage of India pilgrims through the year. The MEA avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the assurances of its highest consideration," the MEA Note Verbale said.

In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved building and development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to India-Pakistan International Border. The Kartarpur corridor project, with all modern amenities and facilities, will be implemented with Central Government funding to provide smooth and easy passage to the pilgrims.