The newly built Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan is not reopening on November 27 for the Sikh devotees on the occasion of 551st Guru Nanak Jayanti. However, Pakistan foreign ministry has just allowed a group of Sikh devotees to visit the temple to remember the founder of Sikhism on his birthday.
Earlier in the day, a few media reports suggested that Pakistan has agreed to reopen the corridor from November 27, which will mark the 551st Guru Nanak Jayanti. This news was then confirmed by former Union Minister Vijay Sampla on his official Twitter handle saying, "The big decision of the Government of India, Shri Kartarpur Sahib Corridor will reopen on November 27 on the 551st Prakash Parv of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji."
However, later again Sampla took to Twitter to clear the air and stated that after having a word with the Centre's foreign ministry Corridor would only a group of Sikh devotees to visit the temple. The group visiting Gurudwara Shri Darbar Sahib will depart from India on November 27 and will return on December 1st.
Speaking at the weekly virtual briefing, Anurag Srivastava, MEA Spokesperson, said that the Kartarpur Corridor was closed due to COVID-19 protocol and it will be reopened after consultation with all the concerned authorities.
"The decision to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor will be in line with COVID19 protocol. We are in touch with all the concerned authorities," said Srivastava.
However, earlier on October 2, the Pakistan government had announced that the Kratarpur Corridor will reopen on October 2.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kartarpur Corridor was closed by the Indian government in March following which the Pakistan government had also imposed a ban on Pakistani nationals from traveling via the Kartarpur corridor.
Notably, the corridor was reopened briefly in June to commemorate Maharaja Ranjit Singh's death anniversary, with India rejecting Pakistan's offer and refusing to open the corridor on its side.