Kartarpur opening 'practical proof' of Pakistan's desire for peace, says UN chief Antonio Guterres

[Abdullah719]

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday said that the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is “a practical proof of Pakistan's desire for peace and interfaith harmony”, reported Radio Pakistan.

He made the remarks on his visit to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur and the Kartarpur Corridor, which was inaugurated last year. Terming the opening of the corridor a "good step", the UN chief said that it would promote interfaith harmony.

Separately on Twitter, the UN chief called the Kartarpur Corridor "a corridor of hope, connecting two key Sikh pilgrimage sites", adding that it is a "welcome symbol of interfaith harmony".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I was honoured to visit Pakistan’s newly opened Kartarpur Corridor - a corridor of hope, connecting two key Sikh pilgrimage sites. <br><br>This is a welcome symbol of interfaith harmony. <a href="https://t.co/zqQa1Prnv3">pic.twitter.com/zqQa1Prnv3</a></p>— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) <a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres/status/1229730148964012034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

During his visit, the UN secretary general was given a special briefing on the development of the Kartarpur Corridor. Guterres was then taken on a tour of the gurdwara.

Inside the temple, Guterres met various Sikh religious leaders and was presented with mementos to commemorate his visit.

Guterres also visited the on-site soup kitchen at the gurdwara, where he was served a traditional meal of rice and lentils. The kitchen caters to all Sikh pilgrims visiting the gurdwara, providing them free meals as is traditional at all Sikh temples.

Minister of Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri accompanied the UN secretary general on the visit.

The four-kilometre-long corridor, which was inaugurated on November 9, provides pilgrims a visa-free link between Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Indian Punjab. Up to 5,000 Indian Sikhs have been allowed access daily, with plans to eventually double the capacity.

Earlier today, the UN chief spoke at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, where he stressed the importance of using modern technology and updating the curriculum. He also spoke about the increasing threat of climate change and the importance of taking measures to control population growth.

Guterres had also visited a school in Lahore where he administered polio drops to children. He admired the efforts being made by the state to eradicate the crippling disease from the country, Radio Pakistan reported.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1535236/k...f-of-pakistans-desire-for-peace-says-un-chief

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said he is concerned that “there is a risk of statelessness” for the two million people, mostly of Muslim origin excluded by the divisive Citizenship Amendment Act passed by the Indian parliament.

When asked if he was personally concerned about the rising discrimination against minorities in India, Mr Guterres exclaimed, “Of course!” as it is pertinent that whenever nationality laws are changed, efforts are taken to avoid statelessness and to ensure that every citizen of the world is also a citizen of a country.

In an exclusive interview to Dawn News, the UN chief was asked about reports in the international media, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and recent fact-finding reports on Kashmir released in New Delhi, regarding torture, sexual abuse and incarceration of children as young as seven by the Indian military.

He said all these reports, including two by the UN High Commissioner, played an important role in “clarifying exactly what is happening” in Kashmir and “it is essential that these reports are taken seriously”.

Acknowledges current structure of the world body hampering very objective of its creation — conflict resolution

When asked by this scribe why the UN has failed to constitute a high-powered inquiry commission to go to the Indian occupied valley and investigate the atrocities committed there, the secretary general said: “Only the governing bodies of the UN or the Security Council can make that decision, but these reports are credible, relevant and very important.”

He was eager to acknowledge that the current structure of the UN and veto power to only its five permanent member states were hampering the ability of the UN to deliver the very objective it was created for — conflict resolution. The rules-based system that came post-World War II was a result of a cohesion amongst western countries which is rapidly dissipating yet the top bureaucrat thought the UN was not threatened as much as it was challenged by this new reality.

In order to ensure increased efficacy of the UN, he felt the body had to be reformed to be made “more democratic, more open and more effective” and to be more representative of the multilateral world we live in today.

“We lived in a bipolar world, the rules were relatively clear. Today it is no longer bipolar, not yet multipolar, it is a kind of a chaotic world. Power relations are unclear so we see situations of conflict to which many spoilers can do whatever they want because there is no way to create a minimum of order,” he added.

The world moderator felt that we live in a moment of paradoxes; “on one hand, we need global responses to global problems, we need multilateral governance more than ever, yet we live in a chaotic world in which it is difficult to make things move forward. It is a challenge to which we must respond by reforming the UN”.

Responding to the alleged ineffectuality of the UN by saying that he “does not rule the world” and that it was vital that countries “respect UN Security Council resolutions”, Mr Guterres implored that “all I have is my words. People all over the world are unhappy with the way political establishments are working and with the way that globalisation has left so many people behind”.

When asked about the position of the United Nations regarding the Palestinian question, the UN secretary general responded that “our position has not changed”, asserting that he remained committed to the two-state solution, with “two states living side by side”. He said he believed that these states should have “borders based on the borders of 1967” and that “west Jerusalem should be the capital of Israel and that east Jerusalem should be the capital of Palestine”, reaffirming that “this is our line and our line has not changed”.

Mr Guterres also affirmed that the UN stood ready to facilitate a dialogue between Israel and Palestine “based on international law and principles”. When asked about the UN contingency plans with regard to a greater refugee influx in Pakistan and delay in Afghan refugees’ repatriation if the Afghan peace process falls through, and the withdrawal of US troops leaves a dangerous power vacuum leading to resurgence in the Afghan civil conflict, the world moderator said that “we don’t have a contingency plan”. He stressed that “there is an opportunity for peace” and that “Pakistan is playing a very important and positive role”. He proclaimed that “we must do everything for peace in Afghanistan to be established”, and called for a massive investment in Afghanistan to support and rebuild the beleaguered and war-torn country. Whether we would be able to see UN lead solutions to ongoing international conflicts in our lifetime, the secretary general was neither optimistic nor pessimistic, rather determined to do all in that is in his power to get the UN resolutions implemented.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1535354/un-chief-concerned-about-discrimination-against-muslims-in-india

 

[Lonewarrior]

Indians and there never ending rant .... keep crying baby.

)

 

[Uzi]

Indians and there never ending rant .... keep crying baby.

)

Thanks for that. I needed some comic relief.

Almost spit out my tea when she mentioned slums. The hypocrisy is staggering.

On a side note, I didn't realise that Indian news channels would broadcast in English.

 

[Lonewarrior]

[MENTION=152]Uzi[/MENTION]

they do, especially to spread thre bullcrap Propaganda ...
you will find a never ending rant about Pakistan .... thre media have OCD issues regarding Pakistan.

)

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Thanks for that. I needed some comic relief.

Almost spit out my tea when she mentioned slums. The hypocrisy is staggering.

On a side note, I didn't realise that Indian news channels would broadcast in English.

Of course they broadcast in English, it's where they learn their terminology like 'terrorism' which they have been parroting from the Americans for the last two decades. Their news broadcasters are just like their film industry, bankrupt of original thought and reliant on western invention for guidance. Shame they can't copy western standards of objectivity.

 

[WicketLord]

Over 90% of the construction of the Pakistan-side bridge on the zero line of the Kartarpur Corridor has been completed, according to officials from the project management unit.

The bridge will be the first link between the neighbouring countries, aiming to facilitate the pilgrimage of Indian devotees to the Gurdwara Darbar Saheb Kartarpur.

Expected to be ready within the next few weeks, the construction of the 420-meter-long bridge initially began in December 2021 and was scheduled to conclude earlier. However, due to financial constraints and the political climate in Pakistan, the construction was temporarily halted before resuming.

The Public Development Fund is funding the project with an estimated cost of Rs4.53 million. The Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak) are collaborating to carry out the construction.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sikh pilgrims to travel to Hassanabdal from Lahore on train​

Following the upgradation of Hassanabdal Railway Station, the relevant authorities have decided to bring all Sikh pilgrims from Lahore to their holy city by train to celebrate Baisakhi on Saturday (today).

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued 2,843 visas to Sikh pilgrims who would participate in the annual festival scheduled from April 13-22.

After entering through Wagah border, the pilgrims will be hosted by the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) which has hired a train from the Pakistan Railways to bring them directly to Hassanabdal.

Taking to Dawn, ETPB Chairman Arshad Farid Khan said the board had completed all arrangements for the Baisakhi Mela, and for the first time pilgrims coming from India would use rail transport instead of buses.

“This will make the journey more safe and comfortable for the guests,” Mr Khan said, adding that the ‘technical branch’ of the ETPB had renovated accommodations and other facilities in Hassanabdal.

It is expected that around 10,000 Sikh pilgrims will converge on Punja Sahib shrine in Hassanabdal where they will celebrate Baisakhi festival. The pilgrims will also be coming from the United Kingdom, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand and from different cities of Pakistan.

All arrangements, including accommodation, security, transport and medical needs, for the pilgrims are being managed by the ETPB.

The Indian pilgrims will be housed in hostels managed by the board while those from other countries will stay in various colleges and schools.

Baisakhimarks the first day of the month of Vaisakh in the local calendar. This year it will be celebrated on April. It is not only the spring festival in the region but also marks the founding anniversary of ‘Khalsa’.

Baisakhi is also the formal founding day of Sikhism as established by Guru Gobind Singh — the 10th Guru of the Sikhs.

During their stay, pilgrims would visit Gurdwara Punja Sahib, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

Those from India will also visit Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sucha Sauda in Sheikhupura district, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, Gurdwara Rori Sahib, Gujaranwala and Gurdwara Dera Sahib Lahore, before departing from Wagah border. However, those arriving from other countries can alter their schedules.

The Sikh pilgrims from India visit Pakistan to celebrate the birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November, Baisakhi in April, Kartarpur Sahib as well as the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh in June and July. Many arrive at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore They also visit Pakistan to observe the death anniversary of Sikh Guru Arjun Dev in June and Saka Nankana Sahib in February.

Visas are issued to the pilgrims from India under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974.

Sikh pilgrims to travel to Hassanabdal from Lahore on train

More than 2,800 visas issued to Indians wanting to participate in Baisakhi festival.

www.dawn.com