Kartarpur Corridor: Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri leave for Pakistan
- by Janet Clayton
- in Global
- — Nov 29, 2018
"It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise the long pending demand of the Sikh community to develop Kartarpur corridor by making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India. For me, this is an emotional moment, which has come through because of the prayers, millions like me have been saying for 70 years way before I was even born", she said. He was just talking about peace & brotherhood. "If we get more hugs from Sidhu, many of our problems will be solved", he said.
The military's media wing, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said, "COAS will be at Kartarpura today for groundbreaking ceremony".
Punjab Information and Culture Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan on Wednesday said that Bollywood, the Indian film industry, tried to discredit Pakistan after the incident of 9/11. The project is expected to be completed within six months.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal said that the groundbreaking of Kartarpur corridor is a monumental event which will open many opportunities for both Pakistan and India. Khan said at the ceremony that was graced by Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. "So, if there can be no war then what other way is there other than friendship?"
Khan gave examples from his cricket playing days and said a player used to have a fear of losing while entering the stadium. "Because, as I said, that unless and until Pakistan stops terrorist activities in India, there will be no dialogue and we will not participate in SAARC", Swaraj told a press conference.
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The opening of the Kartarpur crossing will enable Sikh pilgrims to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, located in Kartarpur, Narowal district without a visa. Participation of all member states is mandatory for the convening of a Saarc summit.
The village was settled by Baba Guru Nanak in 1521 and is famous for its white-domed Gurdwara Kartarpur Darbar Sahib.
In September, India's foreign minister pulled out of planned talks with her Pakistani counterpart after violence flared in Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
Sidhu, a Congress leader and Punjab Cabinet minister, had visited Pakistan in August to attend the oath-taking ceremony of cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan as prime minister of Pakistan. "I am very happy that while for the last 20 years, the government of India has been asking for this Kartarpur corridor, for the first time, Pakistan responded positively".
The development comes ahead of Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary next year.
