Kartarpur Corridor agreement signing postponed - sources

The signing of an agreement on Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan is unlikely to be done tomorrow, news agency ANI reported citing sources. Earlier, both the countries had announced that the Agreement on Kartarpur Corridor will be signed on October 23. However, the sources have not confirmed the next date for the agreement signing.

While the Indian government had agreed to sign the agreement with Pakistan on the same date, it had earlier expressed "disappointment" that the neighboring country did not cede to a request to withdraw the USD 20 service fee per pilgrim per visit to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib.

Sources: Signing of agreement on Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan unlikely tomorrow. Earlier, both the countries had announced, the Agreement on Kartarpur Corridor will be signed on 23rd October. pic.twitter.com/NZPOHiLdMY

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2019

From the very start, Pakistan has been insisting on levying a fee of USD 20 each pilgrim visiting Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara through the corridor. However, the Indian side has urged the Islamic nation to not charge the proposed fee.

The corridor will facilitate visa-free movement of Indian pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev. The corridor will also be the first visa-free corridor between the neighbor countries.