KARTARPUR, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday once again invited his Indian Counterpart Narendra Modi to initiate the dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir issue as it is inevitable for lasting peace and prosperity in the region.
In his address at the Inauguration Ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, the prime minister said that the long standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir has been an impediment for decades to pull the people out of poverty and unemployment in South Asia.
Imran Khan said that the non-resolution of Kashmir dispute hasn’t yet let the two neighboring Countries to live in peaceful coexistence. Therefore, he added, the issue must be resolved through dialogue.
The prime minister said that justice must be ensured to Kashmiris and a right of self-determination be granted to them as promised in the UN Security Council resolutions.
Conveying his congratulatory remarks to the Sikh Community over the Opening of Kartarpur Corridor, Imran Khan expressed joy and happiness to fulfill their aspirations.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan formally opened the historic Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate the entry of Sikh pilgrims from India into Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Narowal district of Pakistan.
Thousands of Sikhs from different parts of the world including India attended the Ceremony.
While addressing the Ceremony, the Indian politician and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu said that the step taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan to open the Kartarpur Corridor will be written in history with golden words. He said that Imran Khan has won the hearts of 140 million Sikhs around the world.
Navjot Singh Sidhu said that Alexander the Great won world with creating fear while Imran Khan did this with love.
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that this is the corridor of peace, love and goodwill.
Qureshi said that the world is witnessing today the steps being taken by Pakistani government for promotion of interfaith harmony. He said that the government has identified 400 temples which will be renovated.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Baba Guru Nanak preached the message of love, harmony and respect for humanity and the same message was preached by our Sufi saints. He said that this message of peace should also reach to the Indian Occupied Kashmir where people have been confined to their homes and not allowed to offer their Friday prayers.
Arrival of the Prime Minister of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI at the historic opening of the #KartarpurCorridor which has been built in record time, commemorating the 550th Birth Anniversary or Baba Guru Nanak Ji, the founder of Sikhism #KartarpurCorridorForPeace pic.twitter.com/QKF7qD97t4
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) November 9, 2019
Earlier upon his arrival at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Imran Khan shook hand with the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and exchanged views with him. He also met the former Indian Cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The prime minister visited different sections of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib and he was briefed about its renovation.