Security Measures Initiated:
- Kartarpur Corridor shut temporarily by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Reason: Prevailing security scenario post-Operation Sindoor
- MHA issued official suspension notice on its website
- Schools closed in several border districts of Punjab:
- Amritsar, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur
Relevance : GS 3(Internal Security)
About Kartarpur Corridor:
- Opened on November 9, 2019 (550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev)
- Facilitates visa-free travel for Indian pilgrims to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan
- Agreement allows 5,000 pilgrims per day
- On Wednesday, pilgrims were turned back due to the sudden shutdown
Strategic Locations Affected:
- Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur, India — Indian end of the corridor
- Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib, Narowal district, Pakistan — across the Ravi River
Government and Security Forces’ Response:
- High alert sounded across border districts
- Punjab’s Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat:
- Warned of possible Pakistani retaliation or conspiracy
- Directed officials to stay vigilant and act on suspicious activity
- Border Security Force (BSF) enhanced deployment and monitoring
