Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, the Kartarpur Corridor remains operational, allowing Sikh devotees to continue visiting the revered Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.
While the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari has been closed as part of a series of diplomatic measures taken by the Indian government in response to the April 22 attack, the visa-free Kartarpur Corridor continues to function, offering access to the holy site associated with Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.
Speaking to ANI, a devotee en route to Kartarpur Sahib condemned the terror attack, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and expressed hope that once the perpetrators are brought to justice, the full picture behind the incident will become clearer.
“What happened was really wrong… I am going to Kartarpur Sahib to offer my prayers. The terrorists targeted Hindu brothers to spread hatred. Once they are caught, the truth will come out,” the devotee said.
The Kartarpur Corridor, operational since 2019, spans 4.7 kilometres and connects the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, Punjab, to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal district. The corridor facilitates visa-free access for Indian pilgrims to one of Sikhism’s most sacred sites.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government introduced a series of diplomatic countermeasures, including:
- Closure of the Attari ICP
- Suspension of the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) for Pakistani nationals, who were instructed to leave within 40 hours
- Reduction in staff at High Commissions in both countries
- Temporary suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with World Bank facilitation
The Indus Waters Treaty, often hailed as a rare example of successful international cooperation, allocates the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, while allowing limited usage rights for each country on the other’s share.
Despite the diplomatic standoff, the continued operation of the Kartarpur Corridor signals a measured approach, maintaining religious access while asserting national security priorities in the wake of the brutal attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
