PM Imran Khan Inaugurates Historic Kartarpur Corridor

Prime Minister Imran Khan has inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor, a border corridor between Pakistan and India, that connects the Sikh shrines of Dera Baba Nanak Sahib and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

At the start of the inauguration address PM said, “First of all, I congratulate the Sikh community on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak and welcome you all”.

Paying tribute to the government team for completing the Kartarpur project in a matter of months, PM said, “I salute you all. I had no idea you were so efficient. That means we can do so much more”.

A large number of Indian Sikhs, dignitaries, and govt. officials have arrived in Pakistan for historic pilgrimage. Pakistan govt. has provided visa-free traveling to the Sikh community to one of their religion’s holiest sites under a landmark deal between India and Pakistan.

“I am always so happy to see the Sikh community who have come here. God lives in the hearts of all of us. All the messengers who have come and gone only ever brought two messages, that of peace and justice.

“These two things distinguish us from the animal kingdom,” PM said.

“I am happy we could do this for you,” he told the hundreds of Sikh pilgrims in attendance. “Believe me, I had no idea of the importance this place holds; I found out a year ago”.

“That is why I am happy to see you so happy and the way your hearts have nothing but prayers for us.”

“I met Manmohan Singh during a conference and I remember when he was the PM he had said that ‘entire South Asia can rise if we solve Kashmir’. And that’s what I told Modi.

“But I am sad to say that Kashmir has gone beyond a territorial issue. This is an issue of humanity, not a territorial dispute.

“The way they [Kashmiris] are being kept like animals. Their rights have been snatched away which the UNSC gave them.

“If Modi is listening, [he should know that] justice brings peace and injustice spreads confusion.

“Let’s rid ourselves of this problem,” he told Modi, referring to the Kashmir dispute. “So we can live like humans.

“Imagine the happiness that will spread and how we will be able to pull people out of poverty.

“I have hope that this is the beginning. One day our relations with India will be such that would have been had the issue of Kashmir been resolved in the beginning (at Partition).

“I also foresee a day when the hatred that has spread in the sub-continent over the past 70 years due to this dispute [will be no more]”.

PM concluded his address saying, “When this problem is solved and Kashmiris get their rights, the sub-continent will see prosperity and our entire region will rise in the world, and I pray that day is not far”.