‘Awesome initiative’: Pakistanis, Indians laud Kartarpur Border opening

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative to open Kartarpur Border has been lauded by people from both Pakistan and India. The border opening will allow Sikh pilgrims from India to freely move to their holy sites in Pakistan.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that PM Khan will inaugurate the corridor on November 28, which will be attended by an Indian delegation led by cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu.

PM Imran Khan will perform ground-breaking of #Kartarpur Corridor tomorrow. The corridor will connect Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak in India's Gurdaspur District.The initiative has been lauded as a step towards building a bridge between India & Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/zCyyrt4kUL

— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) November 27, 2018

Sidhu, who arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, said he was extremely pleased by Khan’s initiative as this was one of his dreams that has now come true.

Navjot Sidhu reaches Lahore to attend Kartarpur border opening ceremony. This is a message to world that Pakistan is safe and peace loving country. We Pakistanis are famous for hospitality.#KartarpurBorderOpening pic.twitter.com/tdXxhIYiDz

— Yasir Iqbal Khan (@YaSiR___kHaN) November 27, 2018

Sidhu’s sentiments were shared by people from both sides, especially by the Sikh community.

Turning his guns towards India, Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan has showed who stands for peace in South Asia and which force is not sincere. He called the Kartarpur Border opening historic.

Pakistan through its conduct has once again showed who stands for peace in South Asia and which force is not sincere. PM @ImranKhanPTI has clearly shown Pakistan stands for peace — #KartarpurBorderOpening is history in the making,history will judge those who stood on wrong side

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) November 25, 2018

Journalist Raza Rumi lauded the initiative saying that it was ‘good news’. He added that it was a positive change although it does not tackle long term issues.

This is such good news. Yes it’s symbolic and doesn’t tackle the long term issues but it’s a positive change. #MilneDo #KartarpurBorderOpening #KartarpurCorridor https://t.co/PJnA6L7aLj

— Raza Ahmad Rumi (@Razarumi) November 27, 2018

Twitter user Gurmeet Kaur termed the move as historic and said that it would pave way for improved ties between the two countries.

Opening of #Kartarpur border is historic event which will pave the way for better relations between two neighbouring countries.
Thank you #Pakistan for the love & respect @ImranKhanPTI you have won hearts of 20 million Sikhs.#KartarpurCorridor#KartarpurBorderOpening pic.twitter.com/UMi6bOnT6c

— Gurmeet Kaur (@Gurmeetk2020) November 24, 2018

Twitter user Jibran Khan said peace between Pakistan and India was essential for economic stability.

Peace between Pakistan and India is beneficial for South Asia. A huge margin of economic problems can be solved if trade is done without any complications #KartarPurBorderOpening

— Jibran Khan (@kjibi98) November 22, 2018

Journalist Omar Quraishi slammed Indian channel Republic for smear campaign against Navjot Sidhu for travelling to Pakistan. The channel went as far as calling Sidhu ‘pro-Pakistan’.

Bhai jan – he's coming to attend the #KartarpurBorderOpening – Just like 2 of your union ministers – are they also 'with Pakistan'?

Ghatiya soch hai aap ki – but yeh tau expected hai Arnab Goswami kay channel say pic.twitter.com/K7R4Ex6DlE

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) November 27, 2018

Twitter user Asma Qadeer termed it as an ‘awesome initiative’

What an awesome initiative taken by the #PrimeMinisterImranKhan !
Pakistan has decided to begin building the Kartarpur corridor later this month, with Prime Minister Khan likely to lay the foundation stone of the project.
#KartarPurBorderOpening pic.twitter.com/J0qteICagE

— asmaqadeer (@asmaqadeer4) November 22, 2018

User Zahid Mumtaz said Pakistan has shown willingness to make peace with India via the initiative.

Pakistan has once again shown willingness to make peace with India by opening Kartarpur Border. Thousands of Sikh Yatris will be able to visit Darbar Sahib. Surely, "Peace hath its victories no less renowned than war." #KartarpurBorderOpening

— Zahid Mumtaz (@ZahidMumtaz8) November 27, 2018

The Kartarpur Border opening is surely a great initiative and will opening doors for increased communication between Pakistan and India. But will it really promote peace and strengthen ties between the two countries? We will have to wait and see.

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Naya Daur

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