ИСТИНА

After the partition of British India in 1947, the border between India and Pakistan became a barrier separating Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs from some of their historical shrines and religious sites. Cross-border pilgrimages turned out almost impossible for Indian and Pakistani citizens due to the increasing tension and conflict between the two countries. Nevertheless, a number of bilateral documents, namely, the Nehru-Liaquat Agreement (1950), the Pant-Mirza Agreement Regarding Shrines and Holy Places (1955), and the Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines (1974), were adopted to frame pilgrimage rules for visitors from both sides. Another milestone was the Kartarpur Sahib Agreement signed in 2019 to set up a visa-free pilgrimage corridor for the Indian Sikhs enabling them to easily reach a Pakistan-based historical gurdwara located just across the border. The paper discusses legal aspects of the cross-border pilgrimage between India and Pakistan with special reference to the faith-based diplomacy possibilities in South Asia.