Pakistan renews settlement with India for 5 years

Sikh pilgrims from different countries visit the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev at the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, in the Pakistani town of Kartarpur, near the Indian border, on November 6, 2019. — AFP
Sikh pilgrims from completely different international locations go to the Shrine of Baba Guru Nanak Dev on the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, within the Pakistani city of Kartarpur, close to the Indian border, on November 6, 2019. — AFP

The International Workplace introduced on Tuesday that Pakistan has renewed an settlement with India for the facilitation of pilgrims to go to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal for an extra interval of 5 years.

“Initially signed on 24 October 2019 for a five-year time period, the Settlement is ready to finish its preliminary period on 24 October 2024. Its renewal underscores Pakistan’s enduring dedication to fostering interfaith concord and peaceable coexistence,” the assertion added.

The settlement continues to supply visa-free entry to pilgrims from India enabling them to go to the sacred website of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, the place Baba Guru Nanak, the revered founding father of Sikhism, spent his last days.

Since its inception, the hall had facilitated the pilgrimage of hundreds of worshippers to this holy website.

The Kartarpur Hall fulfills the long-cherished aspirations of the Sikh neighborhood for an entry to one among their most revered spiritual landmarks.

“It displays Pakistan’s recognition of the significance of safeguarding the rights of non secular minorities. The initiative has earned widespread appreciation from the worldwide neighborhood, together with the United Nations Secretary-Basic, Antonio Guterres, who described it as a “Hall of Hope”, it was additional added.

The Kartarpur hall is a visa-free crossing permitting Indian Sikhs to go to the temple simply 4km (2.5 miles) inside Pakistan the place Guru Nanak died in 1539.

The hall first opened in 2019 for Nanak’s 550th beginning anniversary however was closed final 12 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The hall connects Pakistani and Indian Punjab, the birthplace of Sikhism, which was divided between the 2 international locations after they gained independence from Britain in 1947.

Sikhs are a tiny minority in Muslim-majority Pakistan, though lots of their spiritual websites stay there.

Leave a Comment