Kartarpur – A peace Gesture
By Abid Hussain
Guru Nanak rightly said that “Whatever kind of seed is sown in a field,
prepared in due season, a plant of that same kind, marked with the peculiar
qualities of the seed, springs up in it. Sikh Yatris worldwide have different
places for worships but, Kartarpur has its significant features, a place where
Sikhs come and perform ziarat of their religious sites, founded in 1593 by the
fifth Sikh founder Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Nazam Azeem Khan donated this
land during Akbar’s reign. Kartarpur (which means the place —“pur”—of the
Divine Creation—“Kartar”). Sikhism is one of the main religion of Sikh Yatris
in Punjab. Even the ancient Gurdwara built-in 1656 remains centred of Adi
Granth, the collection of hymns of five Gurus is still displayed on the
anniversary of Guru Arjun Dev Ji’s birth. Shrines are holiest sites for Sikhs
religions and Pakistan is known is the second Kaaba for the Sikh Yatris after
Golden temple Darbar sahib in Amritsar Hindustan. To make an easier step for
the Yatris pilgrims in India, Pakistan created a corridor in November 2019 as a
gesture of confidence-building measure.
Pakistan and India, two nuclear power has always tried to live with peace and
harmoney, but some internal and external powers in both states do not see them
united. Since its independence, India and Pakistan remains two rivalries and
fought many wars over Kashmir issue. Both tried to convince each other
occasionally. Some incidents and accidents happened from both sides to
humiliate each other. Indian diplomats worked hard to isolate Pakistan through
its hypocritical diplomacy and urged the United States, Britain and France at
the UN security council to take action against the funding resources of Jaishe
Muhammad for their radical movement in Pakistan.
In the recent conflict between Indian and Pakistan through aerial dogfight
resulting in the capture of Indian pilot crashed by Pakistani airmen. The
government of Pakistan released the pilot as a gesture of peace marking a deescalation. In the same year, Prime Minister Imran Khan offered the corridor
for Sikh Pilgrims as a gesture of peace-building for both countries. But, the
path ahead for India and Pakistan remains thorny. Tensions between India and
Pakistan soared after the Kashmir issue in article 370 at Indian Parliament.
Although the corridor was viewed from both sides as positive confidencebuilding measures. It was believed that Pakistan and India will come closer to a
better future. Both countries have undergone a particular tense on
implementation of Article 370 against the wishes of people of Kashmir. In
nutshell, both countries suspended the trades and political decisions taken for
better relationships.
The Karatarpur corridor is a ray of hope for both sides to work together and
should be seen as a positive development between two countries.
Among policy elites and national security concerns from both side, it is
believed that Kartarpur corridor is not a magical solution to resolve issues
between the two countries such as Kashmir and trade issues but, it is argued
that Pakistan will still offer politically-strained and historically-charged
relationship and peace will always win in the time of jingoism. To set their
differences aside to serve the broader interests of their people will truly be
laudable achievement between two south Asian neighbours Pakistan and India.
Protects the rights of minorities is an important section in the constitution of
Pakistan under Article 36. Pakistan is very much committed to providing them
security and religious freedom during their religious rituals. Sikhism is one of
the vast religions and Kartarpur is regarded as the second Kaaba for the Sikh
Yatris to perform ziarat. The main agenda of this corridor is to bring harmony,
peace and religious freedoms in all sects in general and particular for the
Sikhism. It is assumed that after the development of this corridor the two
nations will come closer and reduce the intolerance between two hostile nations.
This corridor will also open economic doors for India and Pakistan respectively
and will increase the volumes of trades and will reduce barriers for the
merchants and businessmen. This corridor will also promote import and exports
goods like sugar, vegetables, wheat, fruits etc. The tourist industry will be
boosted and new doors for economic development will be open to promote
trades between the two countries.
If advertising efforts were made and the right centres were innovated for
religious tourism it is said that more than 300,000 individuals will be
entertained each years yielding financial blessings of up to US Dollar 300
million annually. Stated by World Bank that reputation among the international
community may be increased on granting visas to Sikh pilgrims living in other
parts of the world. The Indian government has the view that the possible
revival for the Pro-Khalistan groups abroad may be undertaken under this
corridor offered by Pakistan.
The leadership in Pakistan has not only limited itself to the Kartarpur corridor
only but in the future Hindu pilgrims will also be entertained who will freely
visit Pakistan to join the religious rituals at Kats Raj Temple and Sharda Peeth.
Religious shrines and holy places are paving way for political leadership and
bring harmony between two countries. The Kartarpur corridor is a great sing of
political harmony and it is expected that this corridor will resolve past conflicts
in a place where leaders of both countries can sit together to discuss the issues
through dialogue for lasting solutions.
Pakistan always believes in peace and promoted peace as a gesture to all
neighbour including India. Religious protection of minorities in Pakistan has
always been marked as a sign of love as per international laws. The
development of Kartarpur corridor meant to extend a hand of friendship to India
to resolve longstanding hostilities.
The writer works at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). A ThinkTank based in Islamabad. He can be reached at abidhussain@issi.org.pk