Kartarpur Corridor is still in operation for Indian Sikh yatrees despite closing of entire eastern boundary, which includes Wagah crossing.
The undisturbed operation of the Kartarpur Corridor shows that Pakistan remains committed to helping Sikh pilgrims.
This comes even as bilateral tensions rise from the tragic assault in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir, which killed 27 people.
Pakistan’s National Security Committee, made up of senior civilian and military officials, declared counter measures in reaction to India’s Thursday statement cancelling all types of visas for Pakistani people—including medical visas—and ordering their departure by April 30.
These included closing the eastern border, Indian airline airspace, and India advising as well as military diplomats within 48 hours.
The Indian chargé d’ Islamabad is to be appointed a demarche. In exchange, Pakistan also put Indian national visas on hold except for Sikh pilgrims.
Allowing Sikh devotees to travel to revered gurdwaras in Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Hassan Abdal, and Kartarpur, Pakistan granted roughly 7,000 visas in a historical show for the just finished Baisakhi festival— the most since 50 years.
Earlier, Indus Waters Treaty got suspended under immediate effect by India, following the death of 26 tourists in a shooting in occupied Kashmir.
Happening in Pahalgam, a beautiful tourism location, this assault injured 17 people and captured worldwide and national attention.
The answer to the aggression would be forceful and plainly evident, Indian officials said.
Pakistan called the assault evil but worried that it could be used politically.
All the dead were male visitors, one of Nepalese origin and mostly from different Indian regions.
Since 2000, this was the most deadly assault against non-combatants in the vicinity.
