New Delhi, May 9 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Friday confirmed that the services of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor have been suspended until further notice due to the prevailing security situation along the India-Pakistan border.
Speaking to media, Misri said, "I believe you are all aware of the situation along the entire India-Pakistan border and the areas along the Line of Control. In light of the current security situation, the services of the Kartarpur Corridor have been suspended until further notice."
The closure of the corridor comes in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistani-linked terrorists. India launched the cross-border Operation Sindoor on May 7 targeting terror camps in Pakistan and POK, with Pakistan now launching drone attacks in retaliation against India,
The Kartarpur Corridor, which takes pilgrims to Shree Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak, in Narowal district of Pakistan, had been kept open despite India closing the Attari border in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.
The historic gurdwara is located 4.5km from Dera Baba Nanak town in Gurdaspur district.
The corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 9, 2019, on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Under the bilateral agreement, Indian devotees have visa-free access to the shrine. The corridor is open from dawn to dusk and pilgrims have to return the same day. Last year, both countries renewed the agreement for five more years.
There have also been concerns over the likely misuse of the corridor by various anti-India elements, amid the heightened tensions.
The government has long been cautious about the security implications of the Kartarpur Corridor, despite its potential for promoting religious tourism and fostering goodwill.
Misri reassured the public that the government would continue to assess the situation and provide updates as necessary.

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