Pak invites Indian delegates to negotiate Kartarpur Corridor agreement

ANI  |  Asia 

has invited Indian delegates to negotiate and finalise the agreement on Corridor for which the stone breaking ceremony was held on both sides of the border in November last year.

has stated to have shared the draft agreement with New Delhi for the facilitation of Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara, Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, through the

"This was in line with Islamic principles that advocate respect for all religions and Pakistan's policy of promoting inter-faith harmony and religious tolerance and also in line with Quaid's vision of a peaceful neighbourhood. would continue with its efforts to bring peace and stability in the region," the press release said.

According to the proposed agreement, which is widely circulated in the Pakistani media, will reserve the rights to refuse entry into its territory, reduce the period of stay or terminate the stay of any pilgrim despite the grant of permit if it considers him/her a threat to the country or finds undesirable for security or other purposes.

Not more than 500 Sikh pilgrims will be allowed per day through the Corridor and a database of the pilgrims with their will be maintained, Pakistan has said in the draft agreement that it plans to send to the for signing.

In the agreement, has also said that three-day prior information of the visiting pilgrims and security clearance by the Indian side will be needed before the entry of Sikh pilgrims through the planned Corridor.

The draft also underlines that entry in Pakistan territory will be permitted and a passport is compulsory and the pilgrims will not be exempted from the obligation to respect the laws and regulations of Pakistan after entering its territory.

"All laws must be respected not just concerning entry and exit," the proposed draft agreement stated.

On November 28 last year, Pakistan laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Corridor along the India-Pakistan border. Once opened, it will allow Sikh pilgrims direct access to the historic Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, where Dev ji died in 1539.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, January 21 2019. 13:16 IST