SIGNIFICANCE OF THE KARTARPUR CORRIDOR: PAKISTAN’S COMPLIENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS RELATING PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF RELIGIOUS MINORITIES

Abstract

Historically, Pakistan has remained on the list of countries failing to meet international standards relating freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief. Although, the constitutional and domestic legal structure of Pakistan provide rights to religious minorities, yet government remains less interested in the implementation of such rights. Moreover, restrictions on the rights of religious minorities and social pressure of the religiously dominance society have been forcing the religious minorities to step back from claiming their constitutional rights. Despite, being signatory to many international instruments relating rights of minorities, Pakistan has never reached to a level to claim obligation of those international standards. Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims which has been widely acknowledged for giving a new dimension and a positive development towards the protection of the rights of minorities, as well as improved Indo-Pak relations. Keeping in view the positive response it is expected that it would lead to provide minorities a good-will gesture and pave the way for better diplomatic relations and increased trade between India and Pakistan. This paper investigates the significance of the Kartarpur Corridor in the context of Pakistan’s Efforts to Oblige International Standards Relating Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities. This paper explores the expected outcomes of the project in the context of the protection of the rights of religious minorities and symbolic significance of the project by employing religious diplomacy as a mean to develop improved trade and diplomatic relations.