What is the significance of the Kartarpur Sahib Pilgrim Corridor? Explain the issues involved in its construction.

The gurdwara in Kartarpur is on the bank of the river Ravi. It is about 120 km northeast of Lahore. It was here that�Guru Nanak assembled a Sikh community�and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539.
The union government has approved the building and development of the�Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border, in order to facilitate pilgrims from India to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur .
Significance of the corridor:

• It will provide smooth and easy passage having all the modern amenities
• Government of Pakistan will be urged to recognize the sentiments of the Sikh community and to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory as well
• It will�provide visa-free access to the shrine
• The corridor can be considered a�big development in the India-Pakistan deadlocks.
• It will serve cross-border exchanges based on faith, which could provide a balm for many communities.

Issues involved in construction of the corridor:

• The corridor might be used by Pakistan to undermine India’s security
• Gurdwaras in Pakistan have been used for a�pro-Khalistan campaign.
• Pakistan�s intent remains suspect and the corridor can be misused by both state and non-state actors.

Both sides should start working on the corridor as soon as possible. It is important that issues related to the corridor are managed in a non-political manner.

Topics: GS-II: India's Foreign Policy Neighbourhood International Relations