Published 14:48 IST, June 19th 2019
Pakistan PM Imran Khan to lay foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor. LIVE updates here
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday will lay the foundation stone for the highly-anticipated corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur
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Update at 7:20 PM: "I happy to have had the opportunity to have visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, said "Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur said after reaching the Attari-Wagah border.
"This is a historic moment for the Sikh community. I am grateful to have got the opportunity to have visited the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. In 1999 Atal Bihari Vajpayee during his visit to Pakistan, had placed the demand for the corridor, and it has come true on November 28, 2018. We had several proposals on this matter and we have been working on this issue since seven months. So I will not say this happened in one month or because of one person," said Hardeep Singh Puri.
Puri also spoke about the India-Pakistan bilateral relations and said, "Terror and talks don't make companions."
Update at 7:15 PM: Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri return to Attari-Wagah border.
Update at 4:40 PM: Gopal Singh Chawla, a Khalistani supporter, has said that Navjot Singh Sidhu's hug worked and led to the development of Kartarpur Corridor. He also praised PM Narendra Modi for working for the Sikh community.
"See, Khalistan is (anti-india) there is no doubt about that. Even we are. But I appreciate this initiative, I also appreciate PM Imran Khan, General Qamar Jawed Bajwa and especially Navjot Singh Sidhu. Because of his hug, his hug worked. Also this is because of the blessings of wahe guru. I even appreciate PM Narendra Modi for his effort towards Sikh community. I want these sort of hugs to continue. If Indian Army Chief would like to hug me, I will hug him happily," he said.
Update at 4:21 PM: I welcome Sidhu to contest elections in Pakistan. He will win if contest election from Pakistan. This is his popularity: Pakistan PM Imran Khan at Kartarpur ceremony
Update at 4:20 PM: I don't know why was Sidhu criticised (in India). He was just talking about peace. He can come and contest election here in Pakistan, he'll win. I hope we don't have to wait for Sidhu to become Indian PM for everlasting friendship b/w our nations: Pakistan PM
Update at 4:18 PM: The only issue between us is Kashmir, all it needs is just two capable leadership on either side of the border to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationships get strong: Pakistan PM Imran Khan
Update at 4:05 PM: Pakistan PM Imran Khan addresses the crowd at the Kartarpur ceremony
Update at 4:01 PM: Screen grabs from Pakistan National broadcaster PTV, Khalistani Gopal Chawla seen with Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa during the Kartarpur Corridor ceremony: ANI
Update at 3:45 PM: Today is an important day fo us. We are creating history: Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal addresses the gathering at the Kartarpur ceremony
Update at 3:42 PM: Navjot Singh Sidhu recites poetry in praise of Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the ground-breaking ceremony
Update at 3:40 PM: Whenever the history of Kartarpur will be written, Khan Sahab (Imran Khan), you name will always appear on the first page: Navjot Singh Sidhu takes the stage at the Kartarpur ceremony, hails praises for Pak PM Imran Khan
Update at 3:30 PM: Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses the gathering at Kartarpur ceremony in Pakistan
Update at 3:10 PM: As the ceremony goes on, Navjot Singh Sidhu takes the front seat with Pak PM Imran Khan at the Kartarpur ceremony.
Update at 15:00 PM: Congress minister Navjot Singh Sidhu shakes hand with Pakistan Army General Bajwa.
Update at 2:58 PM: Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Navjot Singh Sidhu along with Pakistan PM Imran Khan at the ceremony
Update at 14:55 PM: Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa reach at the foundation stone-laying ceremony along with Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Hardeep Singh Puri and Navjot Singh Sidhu
Update at 2:50 PM: Visuals from the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor, reported by ANI
Update at 12:56 PM: Navjot Singh Sidhu and former J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweet about the Kartarpur corridor, with the latter now demanding facilitation of the Sharda Peeth pilgrimage for Kashmiris
Update at 12:25: PM: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu to Geo TV: When I met Mr Bajwa he told me that he wanted to be a cricketer and I told him that I wanted to be a General.
Update at 12:15: PM: Spokesperson of Pakistan Armed Forces Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor has tweeted that Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa will be present for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor. Gen Bajwa is likely to share the stage with Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and other Indian delegates.
Update at 12: 00 PM: Spokesperson of Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tweeted welcoming the Indian delegation to the country for the Kartarpur Corridor event.
Update at 11:35 AM: "Bilateral meetings and Kartarpur Corridor are different things. Terror and talks don't go together. Moment Pakistan take's action against terror, talks will start": Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj spoke about her absence at the event and also spoke about bilateral talks with Pakistan vis-a-vis Kartarpur Corridor. She also added that the Kartarpur Corridor and the bilateral talks with the country were different things.
Update at 11:15 AM: "This is a significant measure by the government to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary Of Guru Nanak in a grand and befitting manner," Hardeep Puri Singh said to the media. He also stated that while he was happy about the opening of the Corridor, he said we need to be careful about taking the next step owing to the present situation between the two nations
"We need to be acutely aware of the ground realities as there is distrust due to a number of factors due to the action of a state because of which we have been on the receiving end of the actions of a country, which should not have been allowed to happen... Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal will agree with me that we need to operationalise the decision to take this step forward.I don't want to jump the gun. To take this forward we need to take this one step at a time." -Hardeep Puri Singh.
Update at 11:10 AM: Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri have reached Attari-Wagah border.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday will lay the foundation stone for the highly-anticipated corridor linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur, which is the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev that will lead to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. This will also facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan.
While Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is present in Pakistan for his 'private visit', Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri are scheduled to attend the ground-breaking ceremony on behalf of India.
Earlier on November 26, Indian Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Dera Baba Nanak-Karatarpur Sahib road corridor in the presence of the Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh and Union ministers.
The groundbreaking ceremony was performed in Mann village of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party leadership and its workers also took part at the event of the proposed corridor.
In a landmark decision by Indian government, the union cabinet approved the building of the Kartarpur corridor, details of which were released by the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. In the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Cabinet passed a Resolution to celebrate the 550th Birth Anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji, which falls in the year 2019, throughout the country and across the globe, in a grand and befitting manner along with the State Governments and the Indian Missions abroad. Guru Nanak Devji’s teachings of love, peace, equality and brotherhood have eternal value.
Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan is located across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Punjab's Gurdaspur district. It was established by the Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built in Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.
09:27 IST, November 28th 2018