India, Pakistan renew Kartarpur Corridor deal

• India and Pakistan have agreed to renew their agreement for another five years to operate the Kartarpur Corridor.

• The agreement, signed on 24 October 2019, aims to facilitate pilgrims’ visits to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.

• The extension until 2029 will ensure uninterrupted operation of the Corridor.

• The announcement follows a visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Pakistan and brief meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

• Despite the agreement’s renewal, Pakistan has not reduced its service fee of $20 per pilgrim.