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India and Pakistan went through protracted negotiations that have led to agreement on 80 per cent of the issue and in-principle concurrence on the remaining 20 per cent. The biggest sticking points:
DATE OF INAUGURATION
Pakistan has indicated that the corridor will be “opened” in time for Guru Nanak Dev’s 550th birth anniversary celebrations. But Islamabad says no date has been fixed for its inauguration. This is the first time Pakistan has taken this stance.
SOLUTION SO FAR: India is in touch with Pakistan to ensure the corridor becomes operational the day it is inaugurated. However, post-August 5 changes in J&K appear to be casting a shadow.
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FEE FROM PILGRIMS
India has been adamant on free access but Pakistan is equally insistent on asking for $20 per pilgrim, which it says is to defray the expenses of maintaining the corridor and the shrine.
SOLUTION SO FAR: As the date of the inauguration nears, the hard stance taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs appears to be weakening and India may accept the fait accompli unless Pakistan springs a last-moment surprise.
NUMBER OF PILGRIMS
Negotiations started with Pakistan indicating that it would accept just 750 pilgrims every day.
SOLUTION SO FAR: It has now agreed to increase the number to 5,000, but Pakistan is still reluctant to double the number on special occasions, citing infrastructure constraints.
ALL-WEATHER PASSAGEWAY
Pakistan needs to build a bridge over a creek in the path of the Kartarpur corridor in order to make the pilgrimage a round-the-year event.
SOLUTION SO FAR: Pakistan has agreed in principle to build the bridge at the earliest so that pilgrimage is not stopped or pilgrims left stranded if the creek floods and overflows into land around Dera Baba Nanak. Till then, both sides have agreed on an interim solution that however still does not obviate the danger of flooding.
INDIANS WITH OCI, PIO CARDS
Pakistan was initially adamant on giving access only to residents of India while New Delhi wanted permission to Indians holding OCI and PIO cards.
SOLUTION: Pakistan gave in to Indian persuasion and will now allow OCI card holders to utilise the Kartarpur corridor.
KHALISTANI SYMPATHISERS
India stayed away from official-level talks for nearly four months over the inclusion of Khalistani sympathisers in the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).
SOLUTION: A day before the talks resumed on July 14, Pakistan removed Gopal Singh Chawla and at least three other Khalistani leaders from PSGPC. However, the brother of another Khalistani leader Ameer Singh, who was also removed, has become a member.
CONSULAR ASSISTANCE
In addition to no-cost, seven-days-a-week access to 5,000 pilgrims, India is also requesting for a consular office to attend to emergencies faced by Indian pilgrims.
SOLUTION SO FAR: There is no official word on whether India’s request has been entertained.
— Sandeep Dikshit in New Delhi
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