India to sign Kartarpur corridor pact on Oct 23
REQUEST Again urges Pak to waive $20 fee for pilgrims; calls it a matter of disappointment
NEWDELHI: India said on Monday it had informed Pakistan that it will be ready to sign an agreement to operationalise a crossborder corridor to Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Kartarpur even as it again called for the waiver of a service fee of $20 per pilgrim imposed by Islamabad.
People familiar with developments described the service fee as the “only sticking point” in the launch of the corridor that will link Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur to Darbar Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan’s Kartarpur. Both countries have said they are committed to opening the corridor in time for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, in November.
“In view of the long pending demand of the pilgrims to have visa-free access to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib and in the interest of operationalisation of the corridor in time before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak falling on 12 November 2019, (the) government has today conveyed that we would be ready to sign the agreement on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 23 October 2019,” said a statement from the external affairs ministry.
The statement described Pakistan’s proposed service fee as a “matter of disappointment” and reiterated the Indian government’s request to withdraw the levy.
“It is a matter of disappointment that while understanding has been reached on most of the elements for facilitating the visit of pilgrims from India, Pakistan continues to insist on levying a service fee of $20 per pilgrim per visit. (The) government has consistently urged Pakistan that in deference to the wishes of the pilgrims, it should not levy such a fee,” the statement said.
“The service fee is the only sticking point as agreement has been reached on all other outstanding matters related to the corridor. India has done everything possible to ensure the corridor is opened in time for the celebrations marking the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak,” said a person who declined to be