Kartarpur Corridor: Difference between revisions

The '''Kartarpur Corridor''' ({{lang-pa|ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਲਾਂਘਾ {{small|([[Gurmukhi]])}} ''करतारपुर लांघा'', {{lang-hi|करतारपुर गलियारा}}) is a [[visa (travel)|visa]]-free [[border crossing]] and religious corridor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan opens visa-free border crossing for India Sikhs |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/pakistan-opens-visa-free-border-crossing-for-india-sikhs-1.1573309104454 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114044412/https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/india/pakistan-opens-visa-free-border-crossing-for-india-sikhs-1.1573309104454 |archive-date=14 November 2019 |access-date=5 May 2022 |website=gulfnews.com |language=en |quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sevea|first=Iqbal|title=The Kartarpur Corridor: Symbolism, Politics and Impact on India-Pakistan Relations|url=https://www.isas.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ISAS-Insights-No.-525-The-Kartarpur-Corridor.pdf|journal=Institute of South Asia Studies – National University of Singapore|quote=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.}}</ref> connecting the [[Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur|Gurdwara Darbar Sahib]], near [[Lahore]] in [[Pakistan]] to [[Dera Baba Nanak|Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak]], [[Gurdaspur district]], [[Punjab]], [[India]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=India pilgrims in historic trip to Pakistan temple |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50342319 |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110164734/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50342319 |archive-date=10 November 2019 |quote=The Kartarpur corridor leads from the border straight to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, 4km (2.5 miles) away.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan opens corridor to one Sikhism's holiest shrines |url=https://www.licas.news/2019/11/11/pakistan-opens-corridor-to-one-sikhisms-holiest-shrines/ |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Catholic News in Asia {{!}} LiCAS.news {{!}} Licas News |language=en-US |quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/515502-Kartarpur-Corridor-Pakistan-India-to-sign-agreement-today|title=Kartarpur Corridor agreement signed between Pakistan, India|website=Dunya News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105180055/https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/515502-Kartarpur-Corridor-Pakistan-India-to-sign-agreement-today|archive-date=5 November 2019|access-date=2019-11-14|quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20191024-pakistan-india-sign-deal-on-visa-free-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims|title=Pakistan, India sign deal on visa-free corridor for Sikh pilgrims|website=France 24|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029020114/https://www.france24.com/en/20191024-pakistan-india-sign-deal-on-visa-free-corridor-for-sikh-pilgrims|archive-date=29 October 2019|access-date=2019-11-14|quote=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.}}</ref> The crossing allows devotees from [[India]] to visit the gurdwara in [[Kartarpur, Pakistan]], {{convert|4.7|km|mi|abbr=off}} from the [[India–Pakistan border]] on the Pakistani side without a visa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/kartarpur-corridor-visa-free-pilgrimage-route-a-good-confidence-building-measure-but-thaw-in-india-pakistan-ties-still-a-mirage-5645601.html|title=Kartarpur Corridor: Visa-free pilgrimage route a good confidence-building measure, but thaw in India-Pakistan ties still a mirage|website=[[Firstpost]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055538/https://www.firstpost.com/india/kartarpur-corridor-visa-free-pilgrimage-route-a-good-confidence-building-measure-but-thaw-in-india-pakistan-ties-still-a-mirage-5645601.html|archive-date=3 December 2018|access-date=2 December 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/allow-pak-sikhs-to-visit-dera-baba-nanak-takht-jathedar/story-yU2XI2cuHzW1qx3AVWGFSL.html|title=Allow Pak Sikhs to visit Dera Baba Nanak: Takht jathedar|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2019-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111034958/https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/allow-pak-sikhs-to-visit-dera-baba-nanak-takht-jathedar/story-yU2XI2cuHzW1qx3AVWGFSL.html|archive-date=11 November 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>