Manmohan Singh Accepts Invitation; Will Attend Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration As A Common Man: Claims Pak FM Qureshi

Giving birth to a major controversy, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Shah Mehmood Qureshi has claimed before media persons in Pakistan that former prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh has accepted Pakistan's invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor on 9 November, reports Financial Express.

Qureshi has claimed that Singh has accepted his invitation and will be attending the opening of the corridor as a common man, and not as a special guest or a state invitee. Hailing Singh's acceptance of his invitation, Qureshi said, "He is welcome even as a common participant."

The corridor will be inaugurated from the Pakistani end by Prime Minister Imran Khan, paving way for 5,000 Indian Sikh pilgrims to reach and pray at the holy shrine each day. However, Pakistan has decided a fee of $20 per pilgrim who is allowed to pass through the corridor and reach the shrine.

The shrine was originally established in 1522 by his holiness Guru Nanak Dev, and the corridor will connect it with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab in India. The movement of pilgrims will be free of any visa requirements.