Question : EXPRESS LINK BETWEEN HISTORIC SIKH SHRINES IN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

the progress made so far in providing a direct express link between the historic Sikh shrines located in Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan and Dera Baba Nanak in India?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

In October 2005, a draft to revise the existing Protocol on Visit to Religious Shrines,1974,was handed over to Pakistan.The draft proposes increase in the number of pilgrims as also Shrines to be visited,including Kartarpur Sahib.During the visit of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to India in June 2008,it was proposed that a team from India could be sent to Kartarpur Sahib to work out the modalities for pilgrimage.The response from Pakistan is awaited to both these proposals.