India-Pakistan extend validity of agreement on Kartarpur Sahib corridor by 5 years

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan decided to extend the validity of agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor by five years to ensure "uninterrupted" travel for Indian pilgrims to the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan, ministry of external affairs said in a statement on Tuesday.

Further, the MEA said that in response to ongoing requests from pilgrims concerning the $20 service charge imposed by Pakistan for each visitor, India has reiterated its appeal to Pakistan to waive any fees or charges for pilgrims.

"It has been agreed between India and Pakistan through diplomatic channels to extend the validity of the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for a further period of five years," it said.

"Extension of the validity of this Agreement will ensure uninterrupted operation of the Corridor for use by the pilgrims from India to visit the holy Gurdwara in Pakistan," it added.

"India and Pakistan have renewed the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for the next five years. PM @narendramodi’s government will continue to facilitate our Sikh community’s access to their holy sites," foreign minister S Jaishankar said in a post on X.

The agreement, signed on October 24, 2019, was established to facilitate pilgrimages from India to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal, Pakistan, via the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

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