Kartarpur, the road to peace
The relations between Pakistan and Indi one believes are headed for good as both the nations agreed on the draft agreement and operationalisation of the landmark Kartarpur corridor.
The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.
According to the agreement reached between the two nations that is still for final approval 5,000 or 8,000 pilgrims will be allowed to cross the border and visit the shrine.
Notably, Pakistan is building the corridor from the Indian border to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib while the other part from Dera Baba Nanak up to the border will be constructed by India.
It was in November last that India and Pakistan agreed to set up the border crossing linking Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine.
Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan’s Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine.
India and Pakistan have been living with hostilities towards each other since the day the two nations were carved out of a single entity. The countries have since then fought many wars and have been acting as die hard enemies, causing a loss to the people living in both the countries.
It has been more than seven decades now, hostility and animosity towards each other have brought no results. Peace between the neighbours is elusive so is the calm and serene neighbourhood which should have otherwise been a regular feature by now.
Sensing that the two countries have been living in an atmosphere of mistrust many world powers including the US, China and Russia have been putting in their efforts to bring in some changes in the mindset of the leadership in the two countries.
The relations worsened after the Pulwama attack which led to confrontation between India and Pakistan but the collusion also paved way to an agreement as well as both the countries took steps for de-escalating the rising tensions. The de-escalation can now give way to dialogue and disagreement can be settled only through dialogue.
Recent events in South Asia focussed international attention on the India-Pakistan relations, though some key players like China played a role but still the issues have not settled as no formal engagement for peace has taken place between the two nations.
The issues that confront the two nations can be settled and a better future can be created through cooperation and mutual understanding. But for all this the leadership has to be resilient and committed to peace.
The leadership needs to move further and Kartapur corridor can open new vistas in India-Pakistan relations.
KV Network
