India and Pakistan have signed an agreement allowing Indian pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan without a visa. The Kartarpur corridor, opening on November 10, provides a direct route to the shrine, located 4km from the India-Pakistan border. The deal follows long-standing requests from the Sikh community in India, who have struggled to visit the site since partition.
The corridor will include a bridge over the Ravi River and new facilities at the gurdwara, such as dormitories and an immigration center. Indian pilgrims will need a permit, which can be applied for online, though the approval process requires clearance from both countries.
While the deal marks a rare instance of cooperation between the historically adversarial nations, it was delayed due to logistical issues and a disagreement over a $20 service fee for pilgrims. The corridor’s opening aligns with Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary, with thousands of pilgrims expected to attend.
Analysts view the project as a confidence-building measure, but emphasize that it does not signal a broader peace process between India and Pakistan, who remain in conflict over Kashmir.