Kartarpur Corridor is a pilgrimage passage between Sikh Holy shrine of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib (India) and the holy shrine of Kartarpur Sahib (Pakistan). It passes through an international border, so it will have army’s of both nations manning the gates.
India’s Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur Corridor on Monday in an event at Mann village of Gurdaspur district in Punjab, India.
The India side of the corridor will run from Mann Village upto the international border with Pakistan. The Pakistan side of the corridor will run from Kartarpur Sahib to the international border.
Pakistan would have its Prime Minister Imran Khan lay the foundation stone at Kartarpur Sahib on the Pakistan side on the 28th of November.
Pakistan invited Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and close friend Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Sushma Swaraj declined the invite due to a busy schedule. She however will send her cabinet colleagues Harsimrat Kaur and Harpreet Puri to attend the ceremony on behalf of her.
The Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also denied Pakistan’s invite, he said “Unless Pakistan end violence against India he won’t visit Pakistan”.
This corridor will facilitate the crossing of religious devotees to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, located in Narowal District, Pakistan three kilometres from the Indian side of the border.
The pilgrims can visit and return from the Gurdwara on the same day without any passport or travel document.
The Kartarpur Gurudwara lies on the banks of river Ravi and is considered to be the first gurdwara ever built. India and Pakistan announced the opening of the corridor on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
~The Pigeon Express Views
This is a positive move for our two countries strained relations, this is nothing but historic. It paves way for a brighter future.
The new Pakistan Government has showed an intent towards India’s concerns. Nevertheless we are far-far away from discussing our real issues and disputes.
I hope that this corridor won’t create an easy entry point for terrorists.