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LAHORE: The government on Friday said it had proposed to open the Kartarpur border crossing with India for Sikh pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib without visa.
“There is a proposal to open Kartarpur border and after that the Indian Sikhs visiting the gurdwara will be required to have a ticket,” Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told Dawn.
The Kartarpur gurdwara is located in Narowal district near the Indian border.
Earlier, army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa had hinted at opening the Kartarpur border on the occasion of Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary next year for Sikh pilgrims when he met cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu during his visit here in the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Last month Indian High Commissioner Ajay Basariya had also visited Kartarpur border.
A source told Dawn that the PTI government had not yet taken the Evacuee Trust Property Board (which looks after holy places of minorities) into confidence in this regard.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2018
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Comments (58) Closed
Sep 08, 2018 09:37am
Great news... but I hope this also doesn't become a U-Turn like Atif Mian's appointment.
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Sep 08, 2018 10:02am
Good move but not without Visa. May be Give visa on arrival. Country'S security should be paramount.
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Sep 08, 2018 10:16am
A good initiative towards peace between two neighborhood
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Sep 08, 2018 10:32am
I don't think this will happen. But let's see.
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Sep 08, 2018 11:24am
Excellent move! We should bury the hatchet with India and look for avenues to improve trade with India and also increase people to people contact between India and Pakistan. In that context, whenever feasible, there should be a transit point between India and Pakistan at Fazlka border post as well.
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Sep 08, 2018 11:51am
Has the proposal formally been made to Indian Government or is it just a hype. People should not be allowed to cross boarder without identification and head count, for obvious reasons. Any mishap could have long term implications.
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Sep 08, 2018 01:28pm
Very good move by Pakistan, now India should also reciprocate the two steps of Pakistan.
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Sep 08, 2018 02:59pm
Master Stroke by the all rounder
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Sep 08, 2018 03:11pm
Excellent news especially for the global and domestic Sikh community of South Asia. Keep it up and hang on tough.
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Sep 08, 2018 03:12pm
What magnanimity by Pakistan government and armed forces. The Sikhs should honour Pakistan.
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Sep 08, 2018 03:17pm
All indian stepping in Pakistan should come after thorough check and visa. This is a bad plan.
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Sep 08, 2018 03:27pm
Visa on arrival should be mandatory, nations security comes first!
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Sep 08, 2018 03:59pm
This IK government is unable to support economist selected for the welfare of the nation . and dumped him midway. How Indians believe same thing will not happen in this case too?
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Sep 08, 2018 04:01pm
But we Indians do not want any relation or open border with Pakistan.
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Sep 08, 2018 04:44pm
@Hafeez Totally agreed!
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Sep 08, 2018 05:01pm
@Zak Nope. No need to honour. And for what.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:01pm
@Akshay . How can you speak for all Indians?. I am very sure there are many Indians who would want better relations with Pakistan.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:02pm
@Akshay True that.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:33pm
Thank you. This will win hearts of the sikh community.
Please punish those who have harmed India and win over the hearts of entire country.
Hope to see good relations between the separated Brothers.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:37pm
@Alshay You dont but there are many who does. Its because of negativity like you who is keeping peace away. Its about time you grow up and let the peace prevail.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:42pm
@Hafeez — A visa of any kind is like a lock. It keeps the honest people out. The bad guys don’t line up to get visas.
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Sep 08, 2018 05:47pm
@rajan — That’s quite a leap!
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Sep 08, 2018 05:54pm
@Asif A. Shah — yes, it is time to burry the hatchet. there is no way that the central issue of Kashmir is ever going to be resolved militarily. It only makes sense to talk to each other and turn down the temperature and start working towards peace and prosperity of the common man.
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Sep 08, 2018 06:14pm
This will be an important confidence building measure for both Pakistan and India.
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Sep 08, 2018 06:15pm
@Akshay yes bro you are right
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Sep 08, 2018 06:15pm
@Akshay Then why read a Pakistani newspaper
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Sep 08, 2018 07:25pm
Good gesture...hate cannot be ended by hate but by love....
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Sep 08, 2018 08:03pm
It will be good move if implemented. Citizens of the each side should be allowed to cross border with out visa.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:05pm
Good move.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:12pm
@rajan Your thinking is negative. Think peace.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:14pm
Wrong move.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:16pm
@Chinpaksaddique The people will be in buses taken there, spend few hours and taken back and security protection will be provided.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:27pm
Good Initiative
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Sep 08, 2018 08:31pm
visa should be issued to pilgrims but on arrival.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:33pm
This move will be the biggest in South Asia after 1947 and usher a new era.
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Sep 08, 2018 08:54pm
not needed
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Sep 08, 2018 10:49pm
@Asif A. Shah :Good point, but you have to know, as a nation, what the intents are--- beyond pilgrimage and economic benefits!
There could be spies--or a nationalist agenda!
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Sep 08, 2018 11:45pm
Arrival visa with fee is necessary to have enough budget to hire enough security and services personnel. Pakistan can’t afford from it’s budget.
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Sep 09, 2018 12:01am
Clearly and definitely a bold leadership initiative by the government of Pakistan towards mending fences with India inorder to create a great and shared future for the people of the subcontinent. What remains to be seen is if PM Modi’s Government in India will reciprocate so we can move forward together in terms of our mutual social and economic development in an environment of permanent peace and friendship
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Sep 09, 2018 12:59am
Will any of the border crossing be open from Sindh?
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Sep 09, 2018 01:43am
Great move by Pak Govt. Sikh community and Indians will appreciate it. But there should b visa Checks for obvious reasons. Ind-Pak are not ready yet for visa- free travel.
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Sep 09, 2018 04:22am
A visa MuST be mandatory for the security of our country. Other than that, Sikh pilgrims are always welcomes into our country with open arms.
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Sep 09, 2018 04:24am
Visa on arrival should be mandatory no need for such a huge gesture to unthankful people
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Sep 09, 2018 04:42am
Excellent! The governments of India and Pakistan both should facilitate more people to people contacts between Indian Punjab and Pakistani Punjab. The Sikhs of Indian Punjab have more longing to visit Pakistani Punjab because their Holy Place is located at Nankana Sahib. In addition, the Sikhs feel at home in Pakistani Punjab because of common language, common food, common blood lines and more or less common culture.
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Sep 09, 2018 06:51am
Many and very revered Sikh shrines are situated in Pakistan. It is almost an international and moral obligation for us to grant easy access to Sikhs from across the border to visit these, particularly on certain occasions of religious significance. Initiated by Gen Bajwa, it has won the hearts of India's Sikh community. It is fervently hoped that this initiative materializes successfully, and paves the way for more interaction in the future. Peace and harmony among neighbors, in fact across the world, should be our national objective.
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Sep 09, 2018 07:29am
Such a great gesture from Pakistan. Hope it will be effective soon. India and Pakistan need to improve relationship and live peacefully together. Lets hope for the best.
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Sep 09, 2018 07:35am
@Hafeez A good move but proper facilities should be made available at our border to welcome the Sikh Pilgrims and also visas n security. Proper canteen and transport facilities so that all Pilgrims return safely to thier Homeland.
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Sep 09, 2018 07:40am
@Akshay - I disagree with you. India and Pakistan are next to each other. Having close borders and no relationship is not good for anyone. Both countries need to talk, have normal relationship and resolve their dispute with dialog only. I know in past we failed to achieve this again and again. But this is the only way to resolve the conflict and live in peace together.
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Sep 09, 2018 08:22am
Thanks the Pakistani people and government..
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Sep 09, 2018 08:27am
I suppose border is open only for The Kartarpur gurdwara area. The area can be secured by fence upto Gurdwara. Sikhs would be able to come here after buying ticket and having some permit. Pakistan people also need ID card and some type of permit to enter this area. i suppose it will produce some business for locals here. there should be currency conversion facility here.
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Sep 09, 2018 09:24am
Actally border between India, Pakistan and Bangladesh should be opened permanently for every one and that to without Visa but with valid passport and strict checking at border post. Any one , except police or military persons should be able to travel and should be able stay upto 30 days.
Security is a non issue since only ordinary persons will travel.
This will end the unnecessary conflicts.
The subcontinent will experience a complete peace with full prosperity.
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Sep 09, 2018 09:44am
Simply going to lose the revenue generated from visit visas. "Naya Pakistan"
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Sep 09, 2018 09:59am
What about muslims wanting to visit for Ajmer Sharif in India?
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Sep 09, 2018 10:07am
Any initiative which promotes a chance to ensure permanent peace is appreciated. An idea of visiting Kartarpur Sahib without visa is one which has a high probability of lasting a long time like the IWT. Thank you, Pakistan, unless it is a genuine one. Rab rakha
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Sep 09, 2018 10:21am
@Akshay Sikh brothers desperately waited for this move
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Sep 09, 2018 08:51pm
It is a positive step and will help to improve ties between the two countries.The pilgrims visiting Tehran should have better facilities and security.Similarly.Sikhs from India visiting Pakistan should also be facilitated during their visit to religious places because people to people contact between the regional countries will promote peace and stability in the region.
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Sep 09, 2018 11:10pm
@Akshay i know that,you need a big heart to do it but unfortunately you dont have one...
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Sep 10, 2018 08:23am
Visa free is a good idea for Kartarpur because it's only 3KM from border and a corridor could be built for people to visit and return. Baba Nanak sb had said to have lived there for 18 years and died there. It's significance for Sikhs is same as of Medina for Muslims. Great decision.
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