Pakistan and India agreed to extend the agreement related to visa-free corridor for pilgrims visiting Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur for another five years, according to a Foreign Office statement released on October 22.
The agreement, originally signed on October 24, 2019, was set to expire on October 24, 2024, but was renewed before its expiry.
“The Government of Pakistan has announced the renewal of the Agreement between the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for the facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan for an additional period of five years,” the statement said.
“Agreement’s renewal underscores Pakistan’s enduring commitment to fostering interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence,” it added.
It will continue to provide visa-free access to Indian pilgrims visiting the sacred Gurudwara, where Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, spent his final years. Since the corridor’s opening, thousands of Sikh devotees have used it to make the pilgrimage to this revered site.
“The Kartarpur Corridor fulfills the long-cherished aspirations of the Sikh community for access to one of their most revered religious landmarks,” the Foreign Office added, noting that the initiative reflects Pakistan’s dedication to safeguarding the rights of religious minorities.
The corridor has earned international praise, with the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres calling it a “Corridor of Hope.” As the first visa-free corridor between Pakistan and India, it significantly eased access to the shrine for pilgrims, who previously had to endure lengthy visa procedures and take a longer route.
Inaugurated in November 2019 by then Prime Minister Imran Khan, the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor was hailed as a “corridor of peace.” The event was attended by prominent figures from both sides, including former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and politician Navjot Singh Sidhu. The initiative was seen as a step toward easing tensions and fostering people-to-people connections between the two nations.