Video Producer: Shohini Bose
Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam
A camaraderie like few others between an Indian and a Pakistani was witnessed at the Kartarpur Corridor opening ceremony on Wednesday, 28 November, with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and India’s senior Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu – both ex-cricketers who have played together – trading words of encouragement and respect.
Back home in India, Sidhu faced stinging backlash for participating in Khan’s swearing-in ceremony, and for going to Pakistan for the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor.
‘He Could Win an Election in Pakistan’
Defending Sidhu, Khan said, “I heard there was a lot of criticism of Sidhu when he went back after my oath-taking ceremony. I don't know why was he criticised. He was just talking about peace and brotherhood.”
Calling for “everlasting friendship” between India and Pakistan, Khan paid Sidhu a compliment.
“He can come and contest election here in Pakistan’s Punjab, and he will win. I hope we don’t have to wait for Sidhu to become Indian PM for everlasting friendship between our nations.”Imran Khan, Prime Minister, Pakistan
‘My Big-Hearted Friend Has Kept His Promise’
For his part, Sidhu too showed respect for Khan, saying his name “will be on the first page when the Kartarpur Corridor’s history is written.”
Sidhu congratulated Khan for the initiative and hoped for love and peace between both nations.
He said his "big-hearted" friend Khan had kept his promise, and ended 70 years of waiting for the corridor.
A Pitch for Peace
Even as both countries experience a souring of bilateral ties over growing incidents of terrorism along India-Pakistan border, Khan, in his address, ruled out the idea of going to war with India.
“Both nations are nuclear-armed, so there can be no war. The decision of two nuclear-empowered countries is riddled with foolishness. If we are not having a war, let's bat for peace,” Khan said.
Khan, in his evident outspoken pitch for improved ties between India and Pakistan, said, "If India takes one step forward, then Pakistan will take two."
“The only issue between us is Kashmir, all it needs is just two capable leaderships to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationships get strong,” Khan said.
“We won’t go forward until we break the shackles. The blame game will continue till then. We take one step forward and then two steps back. France and Germany can live peacefully with open borders and trade because their leadership broke the shackles. If France and Germany can do so, then why can’t we? The wars there (in France and Germany) were much worse.”Imran Khan, Prime Minister, Pakistan
Khan and Sidhu were both speaking at the opening ceremony of the historic Kartarpur Corridor, linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur – the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev – to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district, and facilitating visa-free movement of Sikh pilgrims.
Khan said decisive leadership on both the sides could resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries, including Kashmir.
Reflecting on efforts to maintain the corridor, Khan promised, “We will keep making Kartarpur darbar better and better with more facilities. You will be happy to see the facilities when you come next year.”
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