NEW DELHI: After Pakistan reopened the Kartarpur Corridor on its sides, India said on Saturday that it will make a decision on restarting traveling through the 4.7 kilometer long passage connecting Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in India’s Gurdaspur and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur of Pakistan. , in accordance with the Covid-19 protocol and the relaxation of restrictions.
“We remain in contact with all interested authorities, including the Ministries of the Interior and Health and Family Welfare. A decision will be made on the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor in accordance with the Covid protocol and the easing of restrictions,” said the Ministry of Foreign affairs statement.
The Ministry’s reaction comes after Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification on Friday saying Indian visitors can visit Kartarpur Gurdwara every day from sunrise to sunset according to the bilateral agreement signed in 2019 between India and Pakistan. .
New Delhi also noted that Islamabad has yet to build a bridge on the Budhi-Ravi canal which was decided by both parties at the time of the Kartarpur Corridor opening last year.
“At the time of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor last year and in the bilateral agreement signed in October 2019, it was decided that both parties will establish the necessary infrastructure, including the construction of a bridge on the Budhi Ravi Canal,” he further said. the notice.
The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was inaugurated last year. India and Pakistan had agreed to build a bridge on the Budhi-Ravi canal. But with the construction of the bridge on the Pakistani side pending.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian government closed the Kartarpur corridor in March.
The Pakistani government had also imposed a ban on Pakistani citizens from traveling through the Kartarpur corridor.
It was briefly reopened in June to mark the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death, and India rejected Pakistan’s offer and refused to open the corridor on its side.
“We remain in contact with all interested authorities, including the Ministries of the Interior and Health and Family Welfare. A decision will be made on the reopening of the Kartarpur corridor in accordance with the Covid protocol and the easing of restrictions,” said the Ministry of Foreign affairs statement.
The Ministry’s reaction comes after Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs issued a notification on Friday saying Indian visitors can visit Kartarpur Gurdwara every day from sunrise to sunset according to the bilateral agreement signed in 2019 between India and Pakistan. .
New Delhi also noted that Islamabad has yet to build a bridge on the Budhi-Ravi canal which was decided by both parties at the time of the Kartarpur Corridor opening last year.
“At the time of the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor last year and in the bilateral agreement signed in October 2019, it was decided that both parties will establish the necessary infrastructure, including the construction of a bridge on the Budhi Ravi Canal,” he further said. the notice.
The Kartarpur Sahib Corridor was inaugurated last year. India and Pakistan had agreed to build a bridge on the Budhi-Ravi canal. But with the construction of the bridge on the Pakistani side pending.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Indian government closed the Kartarpur corridor in March.
The Pakistani government had also imposed a ban on Pakistani citizens from traveling through the Kartarpur corridor.
It was briefly reopened in June to mark the anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s death, and India rejected Pakistan’s offer and refused to open the corridor on its side.
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