Kartarpur corridor: A welcome move

The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced the construction of a civilian crossing corridor on Indian side of International border with Pakistan near Kartarpur. The corridor will connect Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab’s Gurdaspur to Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district where the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib — the shrine of revered saint Baba Guru Nanak — is situated. Pakistan had already on several occasions expressed desire to open the Kartarpur corridor for civilian crossing. Foreign minster Shah Mehmood Qureshi called for it last month whereas Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had assured visiting Indian sportsman Navjot Singh Sidhu of his full support in this regard. A survey in this regard has already been conducted, and the government plans to complete the corridor’s construction by next year. The Kartarpur corridor will provide smooth and easy passage to pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib throughout the year.

This is a highly welcome news for peace lovers on both sides of border. Peace between Pakistan and India is beneficial for South Asia. A huge margin of economic problems can be solved if trade is done without any complications. Whenever tensions arise on borders, it is the citizens on both sides that are most affected. Sikh community has long called for the opening of this border crossing due to its proximity with Guru Nanak’s resting place. This baby step is a very pleasant development in historically strained bilateral ties specifically considering the recent episode of mutual mudslinging on both sides. Political and strategic realities are omnipresent and cannot be ignored but humanitarian issues must take precedence. Pakistan has always adopted a hospitable policy towards visiting Indians, but unfortunately same treatment has not been extended to Pakistanis on other side. This must change, and both countries should ease the travel restriction on respective citizens.