ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday announced that it was ready to reopen Kartarpur Corridor on 29th June 2020 on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

"Pakistan has conveyed its readiness to the Indian side to reopen Kartarpur Corridor on 29 June 2020 on the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh," Foreign Office said in a statement. In a tweet, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the decision had been conveyed to the Indian side. "As places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh," Qureshi said.

However, India is yet to officially respond to the offer, but the Indian media quoting "sources" described it a "mirage of goodwill". "It is to be noted that Pakistan is trying to create mirage of goodwill by proposing to resume Kartarpur corridor on June 29, at short notice of two days, while bilateral agreement provides for information to be shared by India with the Pakistan side at least seven days before the date of travel," the Indian media further quoted the "sources" as having said.

The Foreign Office further stated in the statement that the Corridor was temporarily closed on 16 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the religious places are gradually opening up around the world, Pakistan has also made necessary arrangements to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for Sikh pilgrims, it added.

To ensure adherence to the health guidelines, it added that Pakistan had invited India to work out necessary SOPs for reopening of the corridor.

The statement further noted that Kartarpur Corridor was inaugurated on 9th November 2019 by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The opening of the Corridor on the occasion of the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak fulfilled the long-awaited desire of Sikh devotees of the international community, it added.