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KARACHI: The Sikh community in Pakistan urged the Indian government to open of Kartarpur border to facilitate movement of Sikh prisoners.
The patron-in-chief of Pakistan Sikh Council, Sardar Ramesh Singh Khalsa, encouraged India to extend the “hand of friendship”. As Pakistan already took two steps forward if India desires long-lasting peace. If opened, the border crossing will allow Indian pilgrims to visit Gurdwara. Kartar Singh and Pakistanis to visit Dera Baba Nanak on the Indian side.
According to Khalsa, it has been a long pending demand of Sikhs to open Kartarpur the border for pilgrims.
Earlier, Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa spoke of opening the border in Kartarpur. For the anniversary of Guru Nanak with former Indian cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu at Prime Minister Imran’s oath-taking ceremony.
Khalsa further said that Pakistan’s Sikh community, including those residing in Sindh, are thankful to the new government. For announcing the opening of the border before the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak in Nankana Sahib.
“Pakistan is a peaceful country and it hopes to change the mindset of all the Sikh pilgrims from India and around the world”, he added.
Also, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday refuted the news. That Pakistan has expressed its readiness to talk on the restoration of the India-Afghanistan trade route using Pakistan’s land.
“Pakistan has not agreed to consider Afghanistan-India trade through our land”. The Foreign Office said while quoting Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The rejection came after US Ambassador to Afghanistan John Bass has said that Pakistan is considering resumption of India-Afghanistan trade via its territory.
Pakistan had already approached Afghanistan earlier this year. And indicated its willingness to resume trade between Afghanistan and India through its land.
The revelation is significant given the fact that Pakistan has not allowed Indian goods to be transported through its territory into Afghanistan.
