United States on Friday hailed Pakistan’s decision of opening Kartarpur corridor, terming it a big step towards confidence building between India and Pakistan.
In a statement, US State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said Pakistan’s efforts to increase contact between the people of the two countries are commendable.
He said normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India is vital to both countries and the region.
Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan performed a groundbreaking gesture for Sikhs in India by opening up the Kartarpur Corridor and enabling the Sikhs to visit the shrine of their religion’s founder in eastern Pakistan.
“We must bury the past,” PM Imran Khan told Indian and Pakistani officials as well as several thousands of Sikhs.
“Both our countries have atomic weapons. There cannot be war; what alternative is there but friendship?”
The project inaugurated will see a secure corridor and bridge built between the two countries, leading directly to the grave of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, just four kilometres from the Indian border.
Upon completion of the work, scheduled for November 2019, Indian Sikhs will be able to access the site without first having to apply for a Pakistani visa.
Published in Daily Times, December 1st 2018.
