[VIDEOS/PICTURES] Pakistan PM Imran Khan inaugurates Kartarpur Corridor

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raveesh Kumar, MEA: In the letter that PM Narendra Modi wrote to Pakistan PM Imran Khan had mentioned about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KartarpurCorridor?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KartarpurCorridor</a> as well. It was written that, “We will continue to work for early operationalisation of Kartarpur Corridor, functional all year round.” <a href="https://t.co/R45J4Oi1Il">pic.twitter.com/R45J4Oi1Il</a></p>— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1141664373360005120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Looks like a Pakistan are being extremely accommodating and flexible over this issue.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a India and Pakistan agree for a visa free travel for pilgrims of Kartarpur. 5000 pilgrims can undertake pilgrimage everyday. India hands over dossier on Khalistanis in Pakistan who may create disturbance. Pak side assures cooperation and keeping Khalistanis away. <a href="https://t.co/jwJuh3tmi0">pic.twitter.com/jwJuh3tmi0</a></p>— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdityaRajKaul/status/1150323283767619584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hopefully this ends up being a win-win for everyone.

 

[WebGuru]

Pakistan, India sign agreement on Kartarpur Corridor

LAHORE : Pakistan has completed 90 per cent work on the Kartarpur Corridor including the construction of the main road, bridge and buildings from zero line to Gurdwara Sahib ahead of its launch in November.

The first batch of pilgrims from India will arrive in Pakistan on November 9. The number of visitors had not yet been specified.

From the Pakistani side of the border, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa are likely to inaugurate the corridor on the occasion of Baba Guru Nanak’s anniversary in November.

The Kartarpur crossing will link Dera Baba Nanak in Indian Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan.

Both sides have agreed to maintain a channel of communication and work towards finalisation of the agreement. The technical teams will meet again to ensure seamless connectivity for the corridor is operational in time so that the pilgrimage can begin in November this year.

The corridor, once operational, will provide visa-free access to Sikhs from India to their holiest Shrine located inside Pakistan. This will also be the first visa-free corridor between the two nuclear-armed neighbours since their independence in 1947.

The proposal has been in the works for over two decades. However, it only began to take shape when in August the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Pakistan was planning to open the corridor.

In November, PM Imran performed the groundbreaking ceremony to build a four km long corridor at Kartarpur. The ceremony was attended by the premier’s friend and former Indian cricketer Navjaot Singh Sidhu.

Since then, the construction work has been under way with some pace as authorities are working overnight to meet the deadline.

Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, considered the holiest place in Sikh religion because it is the last resting place of Baba Guru Nanak, is located in Narowal, only 4 kilometres away from the Indian border.

The shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border and every day a larger number of Sikh devotees gather to perform Darshan or sacred viewings of the site.

The two sides continued talks on the corridor despite their February 27 military standoff. India, which otherwise refused to engage with Pakistan, is finding it hard to run away from the Kartarpur initiative given the religious sentiments of Indian Sikhs attached to the corridor.

Some are concerned that given the hostility between the two countries, the opening of the corridor may face a delay.

But Pakistan is hopeful that the corridor will become functional on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November this year.



Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2027163/1-90-work-completed-kartarpur-corridor/

 

[WebGuru]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great news that Sikhs from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> together celebrated the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak at Nankana Sahib. We welcome efforts to build people-to-people ties between India and Pakistan. - AGW</p>— State_SCA (@State_SCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/State_SCA/status/1157332648785842177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Lonewarrior]

sorry to say, but shut down this project until LoC is on fire. when india need peace thn we will talk.

 

[DeadlyYorker]

sorry to say, but shut down this project until LoC is on fire. when india need peace thn we will talk.

Yes same goes on for medical help from india,they shud shut it till there is fire on LOC

 

[Lonewarrior]

Yes same goes on for medical help from india,they shud shut it till there is fire on LOC

if two nation gt engaged in coming conflict thn i dont think so no one cares of pilgrimage or medical care.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

if two nation gt engaged in coming conflict thn i dont think so no one cares of pilgrimage or medical care.

People who are sick care.

 

[Lonewarrior]

People who are sick care.

what about people who are dying with cluster bombs ?

 

[blackanhyellow]

Its too late for Pakistan to back out of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Pak will lose all the good will they built with the Sikh community across the world.

And I think in the long run, this corridor will pay dividends to strengthen Pakistan's narrative that it values peace above all.

More than the politics of it, the Sikhs deserve the right to access their holy sites.

Imagine how Pakistanis would feel if we were not able to visit Mecca/Medina?

 

[Lonewarrior]

Its too late for Pakistan to back out of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Pak will lose all the good will they built with the Sikh community across the world.

And I think in the long run, this corridor will pay dividends to strengthen Pakistan's narrative that it values peace above all.

More than the politics of it, the Sikhs deserve the right to access their holy sites.

Imagine how Pakistanis would feel if we were not able to visit Mecca/Medina?

right or not. shut it down for time being.

 

[blackanhyellow]

right or not. shut it down for time being.

Sometimes it is better to have a long term vision than short term.

Just my opinion though, everyone is entitled to their own.

 

[WebGuru]

Its too late for Pakistan to back out of the Kartarpur Corridor.

Pak will lose all the good will they built with the Sikh community across the world.

And I think in the long run, this corridor will pay dividends to strengthen Pakistan's narrative that it values peace above all.

More than the politics of it, the Sikhs deserve the right to access their holy sites.

Imagine how Pakistanis would feel if we were not able to visit Mecca/Medina?

Agree check the State Depart tweet even they acknowledge this development which is a good PR for GoP

 

[Loralai]

Let it reach completion. I look forward to welcoming our Indian Sikh brothers to Pakistan to visit their religious sites. After all we are human first, then Hindu or Sikh or Muslim.

 

[Lonewarrior]

Let it reach completion. I look forward to welcoming our Indian Sikh brothers to Pakistan to visit their religious sites. After all we are human first, then Hindu or Sikh or Muslim.

or we will send you there in fishing boat ...

 

[IMMY69]

Good news.
Be the better people. Take the moral high ground. In the current climate it is not hard to do.

 

[Lonewarrior]

Going to shutdown. govt will officially announce it in few days.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Sikhs are again going to pay the price for the dispute between muslims and hindus.

 

[Lonewarrior]

Sikhs are again going to pay the price for the dispute between muslims and hindus.

thn sikhs should know what to do ..

 

[xbronze]

Half the Indian army is comprised of Sikhs. We need to kill off this project ASAP. Make it for the Sikhs living in Pakistan. Cannot have peace with a filthy country like India.

I request all our Pakistani friends to please not use phrases like 'filthy country like India'. That hurts. But I fully understand how anguished you feel about the present situation. So it's okay.

 

[Mian]

I request all our Pakistani friends to please not use phrases like 'filthy country like India'. That hurts. But I fully understand how anguished you feel about the present situation. So it's okay.

It hurts to see posters like you calling us Pakistanis as your friends so please avoid using words like this for us. I don't mind sensible indian posters like Viru, SIF, Varun etc using this words for us but sorry it's an insult if bjp bhakkts, rss sympathizers and hindutva bigots use it for us. Thank you very much

 

[blackanhyellow]

I request all our Pakistani friends to please not use phrases like 'filthy country like India'. That hurts. But I fully understand how anguished you feel about the present situation. So it's okay.

Are you on the internet other than PP?

Indians are by far more disgusting in the way they express their sentiments.

Its kind of funny actually, on one hand I read a tweet from an indian journalist saying how indian people have sansaar and were raised better which is why they would never behave like Pakistanis (in response to Pakistanis sentiments after Sushma Swaraj's death).

On the other hand, there are countless indians stoked about how they will get to marry kashmiri girls now. The stick pictures of kashmiri girls on twitter saying stuff like this plot is mine.

They tell Sarfraz ahmed to sacrifice his kid instead of a cow.

They call Pakistan a lot worse stuff than filthy.

Then they say stuff like they have sansaar.

For every sane indian voice on twitter, there is 100 that are absolute filth.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Let it reach completion. I look forward to welcoming our Indian Sikh brothers to Pakistan to visit their religious sites. After all we are human first, then Hindu or Sikh or Muslim.

It was a sikh who acceded Kashmir to india....

 

[JaDed]

It was a sikh who acceded Kashmir to india....

Dogra Hindu.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

The corridor should still open as soon as possible. It would be a good gesture, and show a complete contrast between Pakistan, and India. Pakistan letting in Indians to visit their holy sites even though they are not allowed to visit their holy sites in India, and India where elected parliamentarians are dreaming of getting light skin Kashmiri girls.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

It was a sikh who acceded Kashmir to india....

Singh doesn’t always equal Sikh.

It’s a very common middle or surname -among non Sikhs- in places like UP, Bihar and Jharkhand.

 

[JaDed]

Singh doesn’t always equal Sikh.

It’s a very common middle or surname -among non Sikhs- in places like UP, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Rajputs even before Sikhs came into picture had Singhs in their name.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Dogra Hindu.

His uncle was a prominent sikh ....

 

[JaDed]

His uncle was a prominent sikh ....

Pratap Singh was a Hindu Dogra again, you are reading from wiki where they have quoted Partap Singh and that guy is different, check first para it’s correct in that.

Wikipedia sometimes is incorrect.

 

[Swashbuckler]

Half the Indian army is comprised of Sikhs. We need to kill off this project ASAP. Make it for the Sikhs living in Pakistan. Cannot have peace with a filthy country like India.

Not half, Sikhs are closer to 20% of Indian army which is still huge for a community that is 2% of the national population. You might get confused by the 'Singh' surname but it isn't limited to Sikhs and other Punjabis, there are many Singhs in other states cutting across castes and communities, even in North East and South.

 

[Napa]

Half the Indian army is comprised of Sikhs.

Delusional! You have some false stereotypical ideas about India. Your lack of knowledge however doesn’t stop you from posting nonsense.

The percentage of Sikhs is not 50% it is actually less than 20%.

https://www.dawn.com/news/525333/muslims-in-indian-army

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

I still believe Pakistan should carry on with this corridor... IMO RSS' animals would be happy if we close this corridor.

Let's see... hopefully Gov will be sensible about it. Many old Sikhs were looking forward to visiting once this corridor got completed. It would be so unfair to them. Maybe instead of completely closing it, they should let selected elderly people come...

 

[CricketCartoons]

Not half, Sikhs are closer to 20% of Indian army which is still huge for a community that is 2% of the national population. You might get confused by the 'Singh' surname but it isn't limited to Sikhs and other Punjabis, there are many Singhs in other states cutting across castes and communities, even in North East and South.

The indian army discriminates against more than half of the population by adding a height restriction, which debars many tribal and dalit communities.

 

[Azzurri]

This corridor shouldn’t be closed. It’s a sacred religious pilgrimage site for Sikhs (for gods sake). Keep politics aside

 

[Azzurri]

We aren’t doing this fir Indian state but for people who want to visit their religious sites. Don’t use their nationality to stop them from visiting their religious holy places.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“We standby our commitment on Kartarpur Corridor, we abide by it and will complete it. India had to accept our Kartarpur initiative unwillingly”, says Pak Foreign Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/SMQureshiPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SMQureshiPTI</a> in a presser. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paksitan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paksitan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/India?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#India</a> <a href="https://t.co/vLviCX8Tsq">https://t.co/vLviCX8Tsq</a> <a href="https://t.co/bfLelc9poW">pic.twitter.com/bfLelc9poW</a></p>— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1159412845219631106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 8, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Abdullah719]

Committed to complete Kartarpur Corridor, despite tense ties with India: Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is committed to complete the Kartarpur corridor project for Sikh pilgrims ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak despite the tensions in relations with India, a senior aide to the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Sunday.

The Kartarpur 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 Baba Guru Nanak.

Special assistant to Pakistan PM, Firdous Ashiq Awan in a series of tweets said that Kartarpur is a sacred place for Sikhs and is the perfect example of interfaith harmony.

She dismissed reports that Pakistan had stalled work on the corridor due to fresh strain in ties with India.

She said irrespective of India-Pakistan relations Pakistan's doors are open to Sikh pilgrims visiting the Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

In the world of growing extremism and intolerance, Kartarpur corridor resonates the message of respect and tolerance, she was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan.

Awan said the white colour in the Pakistani flag represents minorities and it is as dear to the government as the green is.

She said the corridor would be inaugurated in November this year as per the schedule and terms of reference finalised with India.

Tension between India and Pakistan has escalated after New Delhi revoked Article 370 of the Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union territories on August 5. Reacting to India's move on Kashmir, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi.

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.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...ia-pakistan/articleshow/70827057.cms?from=mdr

 

[Josh]

I sometimes feel both Imran and Modi have discussed the Kashmir issue and thought to make LOC a permanent border

 

[Gabbar Singh]

This Kartarpur project won’t be up and running properly anytime soon. Both sides will complete the infrastructure work on their side of the border then talks will break down on how to implement the details on how pilgrims will travel back and forth.

Both sides will then blame each other for the delays.

Meanwhile, comments like this don’t help.....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">Pakistan will use Kartarpur for terror: Former Pak army chief Gen Mirza Aslam Beg.<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ITVideo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ITVideo</a><br>More videos: <a href="https://t.co/NounxnP7mg">https://t.co/NounxnP7mg</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q1XJrCff9o">pic.twitter.com/Q1XJrCff9o</a></p>— India Today (@IndiaToday) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaToday/status/1164798796619890688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is better if India recovers Shakargarh Tehsil or offers Pakistan a land swap so that Kartarpur and the holy Gurudwara becomes in Indian territory</p>— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39/status/1165780806071013378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[King-Misbah]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is better if India recovers Shakargarh Tehsil or offers Pakistan a land swap so that Kartarpur and the holy Gurudwara becomes in Indian territory</p>— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39/status/1165780806071013378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Give Pakistan Kashmir and take Kartarpur. Or open open the Kashmir border at the very least with joint military control. May be I sound a little too crazy.

 

[Napa]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It is better if India recovers Shakargarh Tehsil or offers Pakistan a land swap so that Kartarpur and the holy Gurudwara becomes in Indian territory</p>— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) <a href="https://twitter.com/Swamy39/status/1165780806071013378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Land swap makes sense. Kartarpur is about 5 km from India's border, so a 5 x 5 km^2 acquisition of land would work. India could offer 25 km^2 of adjacent Indian territory in a swap. India could add a payment of a billion dollars to sweeten the deal.



NS the businessman would have done the deal, IK I doubt very much.

 

[Napa]

Give Pakistan Kashmir and take Kartarpur. Or open open the Kashmir border at the very least with joint military control. May be I sound a little too crazy.

The part of Kashmir under Indian control is about 100,000 sq-km. So it is indeed crazy to sway 25 sq-km for 100,000 sq-km.

 

[Rudi hater]

The part of Kashmir under Indian control is about 100,000 sq-km. So it is indeed crazy to sway 25 sq-km for 100,000 sq-km.

Its not about territory its about People, Indian always thinks Kashmir as a territory and does not care about people. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris.

 

[Napa]

Its not about territory its about People, Indian always thinks Kashmir as a territory and does not care about people. Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris.

That is a different discussion. Topic being discussed here is a land swap for Kartarpur.

 

[ReverseHit]

We should proceed on opening this up for our Sikh brothers and sisters. Just be very careful and keep an eye on who leaves and who comes back in. Can never trust the Pakistanis on this - they will use this to fuel Sikh extremism or jihadis across the border.

 

[blackanhyellow]

Land swap makes sense. Kartarpur is about 5 km from India's border, so a 5 x 5 km^2 acquisition of land would work. India could offer 25 km^2 of adjacent Indian territory in a swap. India could add a payment of a billion dollars to sweeten the deal.

View attachment 94172

NS the businessman would have done the deal, IK I doubt very much.

Not a good deal in my opinion for Pakistan for the following reasons:

- Not fair to Pakistani sikhs, who will now have to get visas to travel to India to visit their holy place

- Its an important religious site for millions all over the world, which can provide Pakistan with long term tourism. This will create jobs and employ Pakistani citizens.

- India is attempting to demonize Pakistanis through its soft power (i.e. media, bollywood, internet trolls, etc...) Kartarpur is one thing that will help Pakistan build a soft image not only to Sikhs in India but also to Sikhs around the world who are very influential in countries like Canada, UK, etc...

- This may promote investment. I.e. I heard a UK based sikh already promised 500 million pound fund to revitalize Pakistani gurdwaras. Not sure if it is true, but I read it on well known news sites.

Also NS the businessman may have done the deal but he definitely would have taken a fat kickback in the process.

 

[Runner Up]

I believe Indian side is reluctant to proceed further on this border because of Khalistaan movement but it is going to be very hard for them to stop now because Sikhs in India may not like it. Interesting time ahead.

 

[Extra_Cover]

I believe Indian side is reluctant to proceed further on this border because of Khalistaan movement but it is going to be very hard for them to stop now because Sikhs in India may not like it. Interesting time ahead.

This. Let's see how this goes ahead, there is certainly a huge interest in this corridor from Sikh and here Imran has played the diplomatic situation quite well.

 

[PakLFC]

It will be good for the Sikh's to have easy access to their spiritual home. Pak does not mean to create any trouble for India by supporting Khalistan

 

[Abdullah719]

Talks held between Pakistan, India on Kartarpur corridor in positive environment: FO spokesperson

Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said that the environment of the third round of talks on the Katarpur corridor held between Pakistan and India on Wednesday was positive, despite prevailing tensions between the two countries over the situation in occupied Kashmir.

Speaking to the media after the completion of the discussion held in Attari, India, Dr Faisal said: "This was a Kartarpur-focussed meeting."

The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan had completed 90 per cent of the work on the Kartarpur corridor, adding that he was confident that they were "inching closer" to the opening of the corridor by November, Radio Pakistan reported.

He said with the exception of two or three points, India and Pakistan had almost agreed on a draft agreement for the operationalisation of the corridor, according to the report.

In response to a question, Dr Faisal said that he hoped problems regarding the corridor could be resolved. "We have shown a lot of flexibility. We are hopeful that if a little flexibility comes from India, the work will get done," he added.

He said India was responsible for doing its part of the work regarding the initiative, and that the work from Pakistan's side was almost complete.

The FO spokesperson revealed that Pakistan was planning to arrange a media visit to the area this month so that they could see the roads, entry points and other progress that has been made.

Additionally, he said that Islamabad had invited the Indian side for a final meeting on the Pakistani side of the border to resolve the remaining sticking points.

In a post shared on Twitter on Tuesday, the FO spokesperson had said that he had reached Lahore for the third round of talks that were to be held in Atari to "discuss and finalise the draft agreement of [the] opening of Kartarpur corridor".

"Pakistan remains committed to [the] expedited opening of the corridor," he had added.

Today's meeting comes days after Pakistani and Indian delegations held a round of technical level talks on the corridor at the border, more commonly known as the ‘Zero Point’.

After the conclusion of the second round of talks in July, Pakistan had claimed that it had made headway on "80 per cent and beyond" issues regarding the opening of the corridor.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1503479/t...ridor-in-positive-environment-fo-spokesperson

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kartarpur corridor will be opened on November 9: Pakistan official<a href="https://t.co/9ZeN5dNe5K">https://t.co/9ZeN5dNe5K</a> <a href="https://t.co/dVZ5CyB31w">pic.twitter.com/dVZ5CyB31w</a></p>— HT Punjab (@HTPunjab) <a href="https://twitter.com/HTPunjab/status/1173748767347970048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 17, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Pretty petty from the Indian side - if Pakistan is providing security, infrastructure etc for the pilgrims then why shouldn't they charge a fee to recoup their costs?


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pak sent its final draft to India under the Kartarpur Corridor agreement and asserted that it will charge $20 from every Indian pilgrim visiting the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara. <a href="https://t.co/N7mQHzbso4">https://t.co/N7mQHzbso4</a></p>— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimesNow/status/1183917908579115008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Pakistan’s foreign minister dares India to try and stop the kartarpur corridor. What a bizarre thing to say.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan FM <a href="https://twitter.com/SMQureshiPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SMQureshiPTI</a> Challenge PM Modi- "Ham Kartarpur Corridor Khol rahe aur Main challenge karta hu..,rok sako tou rok ke dikha do".Is Mr Quresi trying to use religious sentiments of Sikhs attached with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KartarpurCorridor?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KartarpurCorridor</a> as a political tool to settle scores with India? <a href="https://t.co/pJg0xG6kVF">pic.twitter.com/pJg0xG6kVF</a></p>— Ravinder Singh Robin ਰਵਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ راویندرسنگھ روبن (@rsrobin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/rsrobin1/status/1185522175018590208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[KingKhanWC]

Pakistan’s foreign minister dares India to try and stop the kartarpur corridor. What a bizarre thing to say.

Pak is dealing with RSS extremists not some sort of liberal, tree hugging ministers. You have to talk in such a way when dealing with these numpties. Its difficult for you to understand this like most Indians but wont change the reality.

 

[PakLFC]

Kartarpur is almost finished now and CPEC is also taking place. India can like it or lump it!

 

[PakLFC]

Just some weeks back India offered to exchange the Pak side of Kartarpur border with other land they have or anything that Pak was interested in. We gave them a quick and solid reply telling them that a historically religious place where the founder of the Sikh faith lived much of his life and died was not for sale at any price. They are rightfully concerned how Sikh's visiting Pakistan will increase their Khalistan headache ten folds. All this inauguration by Modi is fake when in reality they are crying tears of blood.

 

[sweep_shot]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India will sign the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor on Thursday (today), paving the way for its inauguration next month ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev.

“As of now, Pakistan and India would sign the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor tomorrow,” Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal said at the weekly media briefing on Wednesday.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry had on Monday announced that it was ready to sign the agreement on Oct 23. However, it has now been scheduled for Thursday.

The signing ceremony will take place at Kartarpur Zero Line.

The agreement would be made public. “We will share clause by clause details after signing of the agreement,” the spokesman said.

The agreement was finalised after three rounds of negotiations. The negotiations got protracted because of deep differences on various provisions of the agreement and at the same time Pulwama stand-off, Indian reservations over the composition of the committee set up to look after the affairs of the Corridor and elections in India also delayed the process.

The last sticking point was the $20 service fee that Pakistan would charge from every pilgrim for a single trip. However, India reluctantly agreed to it.

Pakistan is currently working out the mechanism for charging the $20 fee from the pilgrims.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the Corridor on November 9 after which visa free link between Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab will open for the pilgrims. The exact timings of the opening and closing of the shrine would be announced after the signing of the agreement.

On any day up to 5,000 Sikh pilgrims from India would use the corridor, while on special occasions greater numbers would be accepted depending on capacity.

The signing of the agreement is important because the two countries are doing it despite sharp deterioration in ties over Kashmir dispute.

Dr Faisal, in his briefing, underlined that the real issue was to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, as per the Resolutions of UNSC and the will of the Kashmiri people. “Until and unless this issue is resolved, the peace and stability in South Asia will remain elusive,” he added.

He said the diplomatic corps and members of foreign media during their visit to the Jura Town in Azad Kashmir were given an opportunity to speak to the locals and inquire about the unprovoked firing by Indian forces at Line of Control (LoC) that killed civilians and injured many others, including women and children.

He said that the Indian High Commissioner was requested to join the delegation and also share coordinates of their claim of a surgical strike, however, no response was made from their side so far.

MEDIATION: Responding to a question about Pakistani efforts to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the spokesman said those were continuing.

He, however, avoided commenting on Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir’s statement in which he had denied any mediation.

Mr Jubeir had said: “We are not having any mediation. People come to us with ideas and we give them our response and our response is what we would like the Iranians to do and that is it, and we would like to see actions rather than words.”

APP adds: Dr Faisal said Pakistan would participate in the four-party meeting of China, Russia and the United States on Afghan peace process to be held in the Russian capital Moscow.

He said Pakistan had been part of all efforts and processes so far to discuss and facilitate peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan. “Pakistan’s role is particularly noteworthy in crystalising international convergence for a peaceful resolution in Afghanistan,” he said.

The spokesman said Pakistan would continue its efforts of “wholehearted support as it’s part of shared responsibility for making the international peace efforts successful in Afghanistan”.

Asked about Pakistan’s role in the intra-Afghan dialogue being held in China as claimed by a Taliban spokesman, he said he did not have an update on the matter.

The FO spokesman said Pakistan regarded the issue of Hong Kong as China’s internal matter and supported the ‘One China policy’.

About the statement of Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad for supporting the Kashmir cause despite a ban put by India on import of palm oil, he said Pakistan was proud to have a brotherly Muslim friend like Malaysia.

On Indian threat of diverting inflow of water towards Pakistan, Dr Faisal said that under the Indus Water Treaty, to which the World Bank was a guarantor, India could not stop the water of three rivers.

He said if Pakistan’s right on the three rivers was questioned, the country had the right to take measures under the Treaty.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1512609/pakistan-india-sign-kartarpur-corridor-agreement-today.

 

[MenInG]

GURDASPUR: India signed an agreement on the Kartarpur corridor with Pakistan today to allow Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. Indian officials met Pakistan officials at Zero Point near near Dera Baba Nanak in the border town of Gurdaspur to ink the memorandum of understanding.

The signing of the agreement removes a key legal hurdle for the opening of the corridor.

The corridor will connect the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab with Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, just about four km from the International Border, located at Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province.It is the place where the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev is believed to have spent the last 18 years of his life.

"Indian pilgrims of all faiths and persons of Indian origin can use the Kartarpur corridor. The travel will be visa-free. Pilgrims need to carry only a valid passport," CL Das, Joint Secretary (Internal Security), said after the signing of the agreement.

"The Pakistan side has agreed to make sufficient provision for langar and distribution of prasad in the Gurdwara premises. On our side, all the required infrastructure, including the highway and the passenger terminal building are nearing completion for timely inauguration of the corridor," the top officer added.

He said the corridor will be open from dawn to dusk and that pilgrims travelling in the morning will have to return on the same day. The corridor will be open throughout the year, except on notified days which will be informed in advance.

New Delhi and Islamabad had earlier fixed October 23 as the date for signing the agreement aimed at ensuring visa-free travel for Indian pilgrims to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib through the four-kilometre border corridor. The first such pilgrimage to the religious site is expected to be undertaken on November 9.


Under the agreement, the pilgrims would come in the morning and return in the evening after visiting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. At least 5,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the holy site every day without a visa.

India maintains that both sides are in agreement over all issues related to the Kartarpur corridor, except for a $20 service charge Pakistan intends to impose on Sikh pilgrims. Disagreement over the issue even led to a delay in launching online registration for pilgrims intending to visit the shrine.

The service charge, expected to help Pakistan rake in over Rs. 21 crore each month, had become the reason for some heartburn in India. The fee was opposed by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh as well as Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, with both claiming that it could dash the dreams of less fortunate Sikh devotees in India.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the project on November 9, three days before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India's end of the corridor on the same day, news agency IANS had quoted Home Ministry sources as saying.

The foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor on the Indian side was laid in Punjab's Gurdaspur district by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu last November.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ind...ridor-2121934?pfrom=home-live_day_top_stories

 

[Abdullah719]

Pakistan, India sign agreement on Kartarpur Corridor

Spoiler

Pakistan and India signed the agreement on Kartarpur Corridor on Thursday, paving the way for its inauguration next month ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev.

Dr Mohammad Faisal, director general (South Asia and Saarc) at the Foreign Office, and Indian Ministry of Home Affairs Joint Secretary S.C.L. Das signed the agreement at the Pakistan-India border in Narowal.

After the signing ceremony, Foreign Office spokesman Dr Faisal said that as per the initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the agreement has been signed while a formal inauguration of the project will be held on November 9.

"[They] were very very difficult and tough negotiations," he said while talking about the several rounds of dialogues between the two sides over the project.

"Under the agreement, the corridor will remain open seven days a week from dawn to dusk," he said, adding that the pilgrims [through the corridor] would arrive in the day and leave by evening.

The FO spokesperson said that the project will facilitate 5,000 pilgrims a day.

"It is the biggest gurdwara in the world. This is how we treat minorities in the country, this is our approach towards minorities. It is in line with the teachings of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)," he said.

He said that the first group of pilgrims will come on November 9. Sharing further details of the agreement, he said the pilgrims who come through the corridor will not require a visa. They will have to carry their passports which will be scanned but not stamped, he said.

Dr Faisal said that under the agreement, the Indian authorities will provide a list of pilgrims 10 days ahead of their visit.

While responding to a question, he said that local Sikh pilgrims will also be allowed to visit the sacred place and a pass will be issued to them.

"There is no change in the country's position on India-occupied Kashmir," he said while responding to a question.

The agreement was finalised after three rounds of negotiations. The negotiations were protracted because of deep differences on various provisions of the agreement, the Pulwama stand-off, Indian reservations over the composition of the committee set up to look after the affairs of the corridor, and elections in India.

The last sticking point was the $20 service fee that Pakistan would charge from every pilgrim for a single trip. However, India reluctantly agreed to it. Pakistan is currently working out the mechanism for charging the $20 fee from the pilgrims.

Following the inauguration of the corridor, a visa free link between Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur and Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India’s Punjab will open for the pilgrims.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1512664/pakistan-india-sign-agreement-on-kartarpur-corridor

 

[Gabbar Singh]

A remarkable achievement in such a short space of time. Well done to all involved.

 

[Mesozoic]

Great news for all my Sikh brothers.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Meanwhile Muslims cannot visit Islamic sites in India. Country of suckups pandering to a group who want Islam's eradication

 

[Kroll]

Congratulations, especially to Sikh community.

Well done to all who made this vision into reality.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For Sikhs coming for pilgrimage to Kartarpur from India, I have waived off 2 requirements: i) they wont need a passport - just a valid ID; ii) they no longer have to register 10 days in advance. Also, no fee will be charged on day of inauguration & on Guruji's 550th birthday</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1190087955588755456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday announced that Sikh pilgrims who arrive from India to visit Kartarpur will no longer need a passport to cross over into Pakistan as long as they have a valid identity.

In a tweet on Friday morning, the premier also announced that he had directed that the condition for pilgrims to register 10 days before their arrival to the Kartarpur shrine also be waived off.

The prime minister further announced that the pilgrims who arrive on the day of the Kartarpur corridor's opening and on Baba Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary will not be charged any fee to visit.

After tough negotiations between Islamabad and New Delhi, Pakistan and India had finally signed an agreement last month paving the way for the inauguration of the Kartarpur corridor this month ahead of the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev.

The four-kilometre-long corridor, which will be inaugurated on November 9, will provide 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.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1514205/a...ran-announces-special-waivers-for-sikh-guests

 

[Napa]

5,000 pilgrims per day x $20 x 365 days in a year = $36.5 million a year. A tidy sum.

 

[Hornbill]

5,000 pilgrims per day x $20 x 365 days in a year = $36.5 million a year. A tidy sum.

For first few years there will be rush but after that there won't be much except during special occasions.Nearest airport is amritar so most of the expatriate Sikhs will prefer travelling to India, Air india restarted some of the previously cancelled services from amritsar airport.

 

[ExpressPacer]

5,000 pilgrims per day x $20 x 365 days in a year = $36.5 million a year. A tidy sum.

Should take it up to $40.

 

[MenInG]

Referring to the Congress leader and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu's acceptance of the Pakistani invite to the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that the invitees will need a political clearance to visit the country.

The development came hours after Navjot Singh Sidhu accepted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor scheduled on November 9.

On being asked if Navjot Singh Sidhu is in the list of pilgrims to go to the inaugural "jatha" to Kartarpur Gurdwara, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said the political personalities and the Pakistan invitees will need political clearance for the visits.

"I think the political personalities or invitees who think they need to get a political clearance and those not included in the list will know about it. There won't be surprises. My understanding is that the normal rules for seeking political clearance for such visits will apply," Raveesh Kumar said while addressing a press conference.

Pakistan on Thursday invited Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the inaugural ceremony of the landmark Kartarpur Corridor. On the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Faisal Javed contacted Navjot Sidhu and extended the invitation for the opening ceremony, The Express Tribune reported.

In August 2018, Navjot Singh Sidhu had attended the oath-taking ceremony of PM Imran Khan.

India and Pakistan last week signed the agreement on the Kartarpur Corridor that will allow Indian pilgrims to undertake a visa-free visit to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, the shrine of the Sikh religion's founder Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan, notwithstanding a chill in bilateral ties over Kashmir.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...nds-ban-gutka-another-year-1614789-2019-11-01

 

[Napa]

Should take it up to $40.

Pakistan probably followed "monopolistic" pricing in this. They looked at the demand curve and came to a price which maximizes profit. If they increased pricing to $40, and number of visitors fell to 2,000 a day they would lose.

Also, the Indian government could have said no deal.

If Pakistan's goal was to create goodwill in the Sikh community, this exorbitant charge defeats that goal.

Anyway, Pakistan needs forex, and this gets them some.

 

[Bewal Express]

Pakistan probably followed "monopolistic" pricing in this. They looked at the demand curve and came to a price which maximizes profit. If they increased pricing to $40, and number of visitors fell to 2,000 a day they would lose.

Also, the Indian government could have said no deal.

If Pakistan's goal was to create goodwill in the Sikh community, this exorbitant charge defeats that goal.

Anyway, Pakistan needs forex, and this gets them some.

What $20 is excessive? How much does a McDonald's meal cost?

 

[the Great Khan]

Pakistan probably followed "monopolistic" pricing in this. They looked at the demand curve and came to a price which maximizes profit. If they increased pricing to $40, and number of visitors fell to 2,000 a day they would lose.

Also, the Indian government could have said no deal.

If Pakistan's goal was to create goodwill in the Sikh community, this exorbitant charge defeats that goal.

Anyway, Pakistan needs forex, and this gets them some.

i'm sure the prosperous Indian citizen can fork out a measly 20 bucks to get to their Mecca..
Plus Doval gets to send his terrorists and spies galore which means 20 bucks is a steal..

 

[Napa]

What $20 is excessive? How much does a McDonald's meal cost?

$20 is about INR 1,400.

"In India, a McChicken burger costs Rs. 89."

https://spoonuniversity.com/place/comparing-the-mcdonald-menus-in-the-u-s-and-india

A family of 5 (parents, grandma and 2 kids) making the trip would pay INR 7,000. That is not trivial.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Someone has to meet the costs of this project and given Pakistan’s perilous economic situation why should the Pakistani taxpayer subsidise foreign pilgrims?

The infrastructure must have cost millions of $s to build and then there’s the ongoing costs like security.

It’s not perfect but then it’s better than the alternative which would have been no kartarpur corridor at all.

 

[kk1992]

If a person can't dish out $20 for pilgrim in a country that is hoping to become supa powa in a month then that person has more to worry about then pilgrim.

Usual Indian suspects hiding under the burkha of 'moral' trying to create nothing out of anything as long as they can make India look better.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Pakistan probably followed "monopolistic" pricing in this. They looked at the demand curve and came to a price which maximizes profit. If they increased pricing to $40, and number of visitors fell to 2,000 a day they would lose.

Also, the Indian government could have said no deal.

If Pakistan's goal was to create goodwill in the Sikh community, this exorbitant charge defeats that goal.

Anyway, Pakistan needs forex, and this gets them some.

Taking into consideration how religious people from the subcontinent are, I would say, at least in the short run, the demand would actually be perfectly inelastic. Therefore, a vertical straight line. The concept of a perfectly inelastic demand rarely EVER exists but in this case, at least for a short period of time, I'm sure it does. Deprived Sikhs will be willing to pay any price to visit their most holy site which they haven't been able to do so for the last 70+ years.

The fact that Pakistan is not taking advantage of this and is merely charging a token of $20 dollars is a gift to the Indian people as a goodwill gesture from Pakistan. I wish that India would stop denying our goodwill, at least when it's blatantly obvious. Unfortunately, you are making it out to be as India is the one doing Pakistan a favour through foreign exchange.

Habibi, even if Pakistan was in the pits, it would not need Indias help.

 

[Napa]

Someone has to meet the costs of this project and given Pakistan’s perilous economic situation why should the Pakistani taxpayer subsidise foreign pilgrims?

The infrastructure must have cost millions of $s to build and then there’s the ongoing costs like security.

It’s not perfect but then it’s better than the alternative which would have been no kartarpur corridor at all.

I would say that building a road about 5 KM long, given Pakistan's low labor costs would probably not exceed $10 million (a one time expense). After that running the corridor by employing 500 employees at $10,000 a year should be about $5 million a year operating expenses. Note that the per cap GDP of Pakistan is $1,800 a year (2017).

So overall there will be a hefty profit for Pakistan, and the Sikhs get to visit their holy shrine. So both sides are going to benefit a lot from this arrangement.

Sikhs are wealthier than the average Indian. Probably for half the Sikhs paying $20 isn't a big deal, but for the other half it is significant.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

A good day for Sikh community and kudos to Pak for making it happen.

Hopefully they will provide good security to all the people who come! A rare good news!

Only hateful trolls are annoyed by this.

 

[Technics 1210]

What $20 is excessive? How much does a McDonald's meal cost?

Mate, Indians boast about the economy and having cash, and $20 is too much even though they have enough money for Smartphones etc.

Or the flip side, Indians are not loaded, it's a myth.