Government Responds to Requests for Reopening Kartarpur Corridor Amid Security Concerns

Kartarpur Corridor Reopening Requests

The government informed Parliament on Friday that it has received requests from Sikh religious groups and organizations to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor soon. However, due to the current security situation, it remains closed. Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, addressed this in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha. The Ministry of External Affairs was asked whether the government had received requests from Sikh community leaders, MPs, and civil society to reopen the corridor, which holds significant religious and emotional importance.

Agreement Between India and Pakistan

Singh stated, “An agreement was signed between the governments of India and Pakistan on October 24, 2019. This was aimed at fulfilling the long-standing demand of pilgrims for easy and uninterrupted access to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. The corridor was also inaugurated on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Ji's 550th birth anniversary.” This agreement was extended for another five years in October 2024.

Destruction of Historical Gurudwara

In response to another question, the minister confirmed that the government is aware of the demolition of a part of a 125-year-old Gurudwara in Farooqabad, Pakistan. The Indian government has urged Islamabad to investigate the matter promptly and punish those responsible for this “heinous act.” Singh remarked, “The government has condemned this act and appealed to the Pakistani government to conduct a swift investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Concerns Over Minority Rights

He further noted that over the past five years, the Indian government has raised the issue of at least 550 significant incidents of atrocities against minorities with the Pakistani government, including 31 cases of desecration of religious sites.

Chabahar Port Project Update

In response to another inquiry, Singh mentioned that the conditional waiver from the United States for the Chabahar port project in Iran expired on April 26, and the government is in discussions with relevant parties to address the implications of this development. He explained that the Chabahar port project was designed to provide essential connectivity for the reconstruction and economic development of Afghanistan, as well as to enhance India’s trade and economic relations with Central Asia. The Indian government’s company, India Ports Global Limited, has been operating this port through its wholly-owned subsidiary, India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone, since 2018.