Pakistan, India agree to open key border crossing

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan

Islamabad and New Delhi have agreed to open a key border crossing for Sikh pilgrims ahead of 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, to be held next year in Pakistan.

In a Twitter post, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi confirmed the development -- a longtime demand of Skih community from both sides -- which coincides with the ongoing celebrations of 449th birth anniversary of Baba Guru in Pakistan.

“Pakistan has already conveyed to India its decision to open Kartarpura Corridor for Baba Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary. PM (Prime Minister) Imran Khan will do break ground at Kartarpur facilities on 28th November. We welcome the Sikh community to Pakistan for this auspicious occasion.” Qureshi said.

Earlier on Thursday, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that New Delhi has decided to develop the Kartarpur Sahib corridor from Gurdaspur district of East Punjab till Narowal district of Pakistani Punjab.

Addressing a press briefing in New Delhi, he said his government had decided to celebrate the 550th anniversary of Nanak in a grand way.

Kartarpur border connects Pakistan’s northeastern Narowal city to India’s eastern Gurdaspur district.

Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara situated in Narowal -- some 115 kilometers (71 miles) from provincial capital Lahore -- is one of the most revered temple for the Sikh community as Baba Guru Nanak spent last 18 years of his life here.

The distance between the temple and Gurdaspur is merely 3 kilometers (2 miles) but the closure of this crossing costs Sikh pilgrims from India to travel hundreds of kilometers, via Amritsar and Lahore, to reach here.

'Victory of peace lobbies'

“This is simply wonderful. We have long been demanding for this decision”, Sardar Ramesh Singh, the chairman of Pakistan Sikh Council told Anadolu Agency.

“This will provide Indian Sikhs an opportunity to travel to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara and go back on the same day,” Singh noted. “I congratulate both governments for taking this huge decision.”

Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also welcomed the development terming it a victory of peace lobbies in both the countries.

In a Twitter post, Chaudhry said: “Indian Cabinet endorsement of Pakistan’s proposition on #KartarPurBorderOpening is victory of peace lobby in both countries, It’s a step towards right direction and we hope such steps ll [will] encourage voice of reasons and tranquility on both sides of the border.”

The 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, will be held next year at his birthplace -- Nankana Sahib district of Punjab.

Pakistan, earlier this year, had announced to celebrate the next year’s event at the government level.

Following Islamabad’s move, New Delhi on Monday also announced to celebrate the event inviting Pakistani Sikh community to attend the festivities set to begin in November next year in the neighboring country.

The two countries have also announced to issue commemorative coins and postage stamps to mark the event besides holding seminars, and symposiums.

Pakistan expects 100,000 pilgrims from within country and abroad to participate in the events scheduled to be held in Nankana Sahib.