Recently, two incidents took place in the context of relations between India and Pakistan which have been dormant for almost a decade. Cross-border terrorism supported by Pakistan had soured relations between the two neighboring countries in the past few years. However, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan and the extension of the India-Pakistan Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement signaled a major breakthrough towards melting the ice. Jaishankar participated in the 23rd edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on October 16, where he led the Indian delegation and raised India’s concerns related to cross-border terrorism. He met his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar twice – once over dinner and once over lunch during the SCO summit. Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is the first by an Indian foreign minister in nine years, while his predecessor Sushma Swaraj had visited Pakistan in 2015.
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Nevertheless, his visit to the neighboring country, which was historically a part of India, did not yield much results, but peace-loving citizens across the border were satisfied and hopeful to see some diplomatic activities between the two nuclear powers after a long gap. After independence from British rule, Pakistan was separated from India in 1947.
The second happy thing happened on October 22, when India and Pakistan announced the extension of validity of the agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
“It has been agreed to extend the validity of the Agreement on Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor between India and Pakistan through diplomatic channels for a period of five years. 2. Gurdwara Darbar from India through the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The agreement signed on October 24, 2019 to facilitate the travel of pilgrims to Sahib Kartarpur, Narowal, Pakistan was valid for a period of five years.”
Issue of fee on Indian pilgrims
Pakistan did not accept India’s long-pending demand to waive off fees or charges on Indian pilgrims, which has remained a matter of concern for hundreds of Indians visiting the holy site in Pakistan.
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In view of the continuous requests of pilgrims regarding removal of service charge of US$ 20 per pilgrim per journey by Pakistan, India has once again urged Pakistan not to impose any fee or charge on pilgrims.
Importance of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement
The extension of validity of this agreement will ensure uninterrupted operation of the corridor for pilgrims coming from India to visit the holy Gurudwara in Pakistan.
Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor is a sacred pilgrimage site for the Sikh community living in India and Pakistan. This pilgrimage site is located in the village of Kartarpur on the western bank of the Ravi River, where Sri Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life. Gurudwara Dera Baba Nanak is about 1 km from the India-Pakistan border. Gurudwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib falls in Narowal district of Pakistan, which is about 4.5 km from the international border.
The Indian part of the Dera Baba Nanak–Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor consists of a 4.1 km long four-lane highway from Dera Baba Nanak to the international border.
Could the extension of Sri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Agreement be the ice breaker?
It is too early to reach any conclusion. Often, such a move takes time to yield results in terms of people-to-people contacts. At the moment, diplomatically things are not in good shape, but people are hopeful that such a move (extension of the agreement) will keep the window open for talks and will help move things in the right direction.
Nawaz Sharif advocates normality in India-Pakistan relations
Encouraged by Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad, former Pakistan Prime Minister and president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) Nawaz Sharif advocated dialogue and restoration of normality in relations between the two neighboring countries.
Nawaz Sharif on 17 October said that India and Pakistan should “bury” the past and look towards the future to live as good neighbours. This comment is being seen as an attempt to reach out to New Delhi. Sharif, a three-time prime minister, described Jaishankar’s visit as a “good beginning” and said both sides should now talk and move forward.
Nawaz Sharif lauds PM Modi’s 2015 visit to Pakistan
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Lahore in December 2015, Sharif said he was not happy with the “prolonged stagnation” in relations between the two countries and hoped both sides would move forward with a positive outlook. He said, “We cannot change our neighbours, neither Pakistan nor India. We must live as good neighbours.”
