India, Pak to build corridor for Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur gurdwara

President Kovind and Punjab CM will lay the foundation stone of the corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur on Nov 26; Imran to be at groundbreaking ceremony in Pak on Nov 28

India and Pakistan announced on Thursday that they will build a corridor on their respective sides to let Sikh pilgrims visit the iconic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur on the banks of the river Ravi in the neighbouring country.

The plan to build a corridor on the Indian side leading to the border near the gurdwara was among a slew of proposals cleared during a Cabinet meeting to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary in 2019. The corridor on the Indian side will be built as an “integrated development project” with funding from the central government, and the Indian government called on its Pakistani counterpart to develop a similar corridor on its territory to “recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community”, said people familiar with the developments.

“In landmark decision, the Cabinet approves building and development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to International Border. Kartarpur corridor project with all modern amenities and facilities to be implemented with Central Government funding,” home minister Rajnath Singh tweeted minutes after the Cabinet meeting got over.

President Ram Nath Kovind and Punjab chief minister CM Amarinder Singh will lay the foundation stone of the corridor on November 26, news agency PTI reported citing sources in the state government.

“The move will facilitate lakhs of pilgrims desirous of visiting the Kartarpur gurdwara,” Amarinder Singh said in a statement.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal termed it as “historic”.

Soon after the external affairs ministry sent a note verbale of formal communication to the Pakistani high commission in New Delhi regarding the issue, Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Twitter that groundbreaking for work in his country will be done by Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 28.

“Pakistan has already conveyed to India its decision to open Kartarpur Corridor for Baba Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary,” Qureshi tweeted. “We welcome the Sikh community to Pakistan for this auspicious occasion.”

India’s outreach to Pakistan also marked the first formal contact between the two sides since New Delhi called off a meeting of the foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN general assembly in September over terror-related concerns.

It comes at a time when there has been a sharp uptick by proKhalistan groups in countries such as Canada, the UK and the US. There have also been reports of Pakistan allegedly backing some pro-Khalistan elements in western countries.

I welcome India and Pakistan government’s approval for building the Kartarpur corridor. The move will facilitate lakhs of pilgrims desirous of visiting the historic gurdwara across the border. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH, Punjab CM

PM Imran Khan will lay the foundation stone of corridor project on Nov 28. It will be a part of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniv celebrations. SHAHD MEHMOOD QURESHI, Pak foreign minister

I thank the Govt of India from the core of my heart for opening the corridor. It will spread Guru’s message of peace across the globe. NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU, Punjab local bodies minister