ISLAMABAD: Former diplomats and members from Pakistan’s Sikh community welcomed the government’s initiative on Monday to develop a cross-border corridor which would allow pilgrims from India to visit the final resting place of Guru Nanak, the religion’s founder, in Kartarpur.
“We are very excited to welcome our Indian brothers to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur. We are thankful to Prime Minister Imran Khan for facilitating our brothers and sisters across the border,” Ranjeet Singh, a lawmaker in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, told Arab News.
He added that Sikhs from across the globe have been lobbying for years to get an easy access to the revered shrine where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life. “Kartarpur Gurdwara is one of the most sacred places for the Sikh community and provision of easy access to the pilgrims, I believe, will also augur well for peace and prosperity in Pakistan,” he said.
“The opening of the Kartarpur corridor also shows that Pakistan cares for its religious minorities and this will send a good message to the international community as well,” Singh added.
Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony in Kartarpur on November 28, which will be attended by dignitaries and journalists from both the countries. “We will grant a visa-free entrance to all the pilgrims coming from India and a separate mechanism for that purpose is being developed,” Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Information, told journalists on Friday.
The Indian government has also agreed to develop the corridor on its side to facilitate the pilgrims. India’s Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday laid the foundation stone for the construction of the 4km-long corridor connecting Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district with the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan.
Former ambassadors also welcomed the move saying that it would increase people to people contact in both the countries. “This is a good initiative,” Aziz Ahmad Khan, a former diplomat, told Arab News. He, however, said that this is a “very small” step to help normalize relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. “The initiative will help improve the environment, but normalization of the relationship (between Pakistan and India) is a complicated process,” he said.
Former ambassador Ayaz Wazir concurred, adding that: “Pakistan and India are two important countries in the region and their cordial relationship can contribute to prosperity and regional peace including peaceful settlement of Afghan conflict.”
The Kartarpur corridor will be a cross-border gateway between Pakistan and India to allow Sikh pilgrims easy access to the holy shrine of Kartarpur Sahib. It is located in the Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province along the river Ravi, four kilometers from the Indian border.
The shrine was built to commemorate the site where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, stayed after completing his missionary work. He formed a Sikh community there and resided in the place for 18 years until his death in 1539. The Gurdwara is built in the same place where Guru Nanak is said to have died. Its religious significance can be gauged from the fact that Indian Sikhs gather in large numbers for darshans (sacred viewing of the site) using telescopes from across the border.
Plans to build the corridor were first proposed in 1999 when India’s late Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, took a highly-symbolic bus ride from New Delhi to Lahore on the inaugural journey of Routemaster 10, which was intended to provide a means for citizens of India and Pakistan to visit each other. The bus service was briefly discontinued following the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 and resumed operations in 2003.
The total population of Sikhs is estimated to be around 27 million across the world, out of which 20.8 million reside in India, with Pakistan home to approximately 10,000 community members. Pakistan’s Sikh population is predominantly Pashtun inhabiting areas in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region and tribal districts.
Pakistani Sikhs, diplomats welcome opening of Kartarpur corridor
Pakistani Sikhs, diplomats welcome opening of Kartarpur corridor
- Place holds significance as founder of religion had lived there for 18 years until his death
- Lawmaker says move reflects country’s care and concern for minority communities
Belarus President Lukashenko to arrive in Pakistan today amid Islamabad protest
- Thousands of ex-PM Khan supporters expected to arrive in Pakistan’s capital for anti-government protest
- Pakistan, Belarus expected to sign several agreements during Aleksandr Lukashenko’s three-day visit to Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on a three-day visit today, Monday, as thousands of supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan march toward the capital for an anti-government march.
Pakistan’s state media said last week that Lukashenko was expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on bilateral cooperation while several agreements would be signed between the two countries.
His visit comes at a time when thousands of supporters of jailed ex-PM Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party are headed toward Islamabad for a protest “long march.” Khan’s party is demanding his release from prison, independence of the judiciary and protesting against alleged rigging in the February national elections.
“President of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko will undertake three-day visit to Pakistan from today,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
As a 68-member delegation from Belarus arrived in Pakistan’s capital on Sunday ahead of Lukashenko’s visit, Pakistan’s government described the PTI’s protest as a “deliberate conspiracy” against the country’s “honor,” vowing stern action against any persons found violating the law.
The government last week took measures to enhance security in Islamabad, sealing off key highways and motorways leading to the capital from surrounding areas with shipping containers.
Security in the capital has also been beefed up with the deployment of paramilitary forces and police while the government has suspended Internet services in areas deemed sensitive for security.
PTI CARAVAN
Meanwhile, the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left Peshawar around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday and reached Swabi in the evening, where it was joined by protesters from across the province.
The caravan then proceeded to Ghazi Barotha near Punjab, where it expects resistance from federal authorities.
Hajji Fazal Elahi, a PTI provincial lawmaker, told Arab News the party workers were determined to reach D-Chowk, the protest venue in Islamabad.
“There are hurdles as the government has placed barriers in different places. We will try our best to remove them, but if we don’t succeed, we’ll spend the night here,” he said, referring to Ghazi Barotha.
“We will go to D-Chowk and cross all the barriers, even if it takes a day or two,” he added.
Pakistan says protests cost $684 million daily as Imran Khan’s supporters march on Islamabad
- Finance Ministry’s estimates exclude losses from IT, telecom sectors and provincial economies
- Imran Khan has called for protests demanding his release, with demonstrations also held abroad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has prepared a report estimating economic losses of Rs190 billion ($684 million) per day due to political protests, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said on Sunday, as supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan march toward Islamabad to demand his release.
The protest, led by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has effectively cut off the federal capital from other cities, with authorities using shipping containers to seal all entry and exit points and announcing the closure of all educational institutions in Islamabad.
The disruption has also impacted small businesses, with slow Internet and telecom services further compounding the economic losses.
“Protests result in a daily loss of Rs190 billion,” the finance minister said in a statement circulated by his office, warning of repercussions for the national economy.
According to the ministry’s report, the GDP suffers a daily loss of Rs144 billion, accounting for the largest share of the economic impact. Additionally, a decline in exports results in a daily loss of Rs26 billion, while disruptions in foreign direct investment contribute Rs3 billion to the daily losses.
Losses in the IT and telecom sectors are significant but separate from these figures.
“The federal government’s daily loss is Rs190 billion, while provincial losses are even higher,” Aurangzeb noted, without providing detailed provincial breakdowns.
Khan, who has been incarcerated for over a year on charges he claims are politically motivated, has urged his followers to rally both in Pakistan and abroad.
PTI supporters in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Spain and Japan have also organized demonstrations, calling for the former prime minister’s release.
As tensions persist, the government remains firm in its resolve to maintain public order, with Finance Minister Aurangzeb stressing that the ongoing unrest is severely undermining the country’s economic recovery efforts.
Pakistan urges climate justice at COP29, highlights gaps in global commitments
- It highlights mismatch between developed nations’ pledges and developing countries’ needs
- Romina Alam says Pakistan is forced into debt to manage the fallout of climate disasters
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top climate change official on Sunday voiced concern over the widening gap between global climate commitments and the needs of vulnerable nations as COP29 ended in Azerbaijan.
Addressing the closing plenary, Romina Khurshid Alam, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change, emphasized Pakistan’s acute vulnerability to phenomenon, citing devastating floods, glacial melt, extreme heatwaves and droughts that have affected millions and strained the country’s resources.
“Climate justice is not charity; it is a moral obligation,” she said during her statement, criticizing the mismatch between developed nations’ pledges and the requirements of developing countries to implement their climate plans.
The Pakistani official welcomed the adoption of the Baku Climate Unity Pact, though she expressed “mixed feelings” about the outcomes.
“We note critical gaps in the decisions adopted here,” she said. “Global solidarity is important, but the goals set by developed countries fall short of addressing the needs of developing nations to implement their NDCs [Nationally Determined Contributions] and National Adaptation Plans.”
Alam highlighted the inequity in the international climate finance system, pointing out that countries like Pakistan are being forced into debt to manage the fallout of climate disasters.
“The climate crisis is turning into a debt crisis because the means of implementation are not clear,” she added.
The Pakistani official urged all parties to return to the negotiating table with renewed determination ahead of COP30.
“Multilateralism remains the cornerstone of Pakistan’s climate diplomacy, and we hope for greater equity and commitment in addressing outstanding critical issues,” she added.
Pakistan is ranked as the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Apart from floods, droughts and heatwaves, the country’s eastern cities in Punjab have also witnessed unprecedented smog, taking the AQI level as high as 2,000.
Imran Khan’s party decries ‘crackdown’ as caravan nears Punjab amid government’s protest ban
- Government says it will not allow anyone to disrupt public order amid Belarusian delegation visit to Pakistan
- PTI caravan from KP expect resistance from federal authorities near Punjab, plans to camp overnight if needed
ISLAMABAD/GHAZI BAROTHA: Sporadic clashes erupted near Islamabad on Sunday as jailed ex-premier Imran Khan’s supporters from nearby Rawalpindi tried to enter the capital in response to a protest call, while their party leaders criticized what they described as a government “crackdown” to block the demonstration.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a “long march” to Islamabad, seeking the release of its founding leader after more than a year of his incarceration on charges it claims are politically motivated.
The party is also protesting alleged rigging in February’s general elections and raising concerns about judicial independence, which it says has been undermined by recent constitutional amendments, a claim the government denies.
Speaking to Arab News, Sayed Zulfikar Bukhari, a senior PTI leader and close aide to Khan, expressed dismay at the government’s response, saying his party only wanted to hold a peaceful protest.
“There is a heavy crackdown in Rawalpindi, as they [the law enforcement officials] have shot rubber bullets, teargas and also picked up people,” he said.
“We just want to do a peaceful protest,” he added. “We will continue [the demonstration] for days to come because we have the right to peaceful assembly and protest.”
Arab News reached out to police officials for comment but did not receive a response.
SECURITY MEASURES
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi toured Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock by air on Sunday to review security arrangements, expressing satisfaction with the measures and reiterating that the government would take every step to maintain law and order in Islamabad.
“The government has made every possible effort to protect the lives and property of citizens,” Naqvi said, warning that “troublemakers will be dealt with strictly according to the law.”
He added that police, paramilitary Frontier Corps and Rangers were performing their duties with vigilance.
The government has described PTI’s protest as a “deliberate conspiracy” against the country’s “honor,” citing its timing as a 68-member Belarusian delegation arrived in Islamabad for bilateral economic talks.
President Aleksandr Lukashenko is scheduled to arrive in the federal capital on Monday, with officials characterizing the PTI march as an attempt to sabotage Pakistan’s economic recovery.
Naqvi underscored earlier in the day that no one would be allowed to disrupt public order in the federal capital during the visit.
PTI CARAVAN
Meanwhile, the PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur left Peshawar around 1:30 p.m. and reached Swabi in the evening, where it was joined by protesters from across the province.
The caravan then proceeded to Ghazi Barotha near Punjab, where it expects resistance from federal authorities.
Hajji Fazal Elahi, a PTI provincial lawmaker, told Arab News the party workers were determined to reach D-Chowk, the protest venue in Islamabad.
“There are hurdles as the government has placed barriers in different places. We will try our best to remove them, but if we don’t succeed, we’ll spend the night here,” he said, referring to Ghazi Barotha.
“We will go to D-Chowk and cross all the barriers, even if it takes a day or two,” he added.
Elahi also acknowledged challenges due to “insufficient machinery” for clearing blockades, adding that the group was prepared to camp at their current location if necessary.
PTI leaders remain defiant, with Gandapur vowing to reach the federal capital “at any cost.”
The party has hinted at an indefinite sit-in in Islamabad, pledging not to return until their demands are met by the government.
Pakistani authorities broker seven-day ceasefire between warring factions in Kurram
- Three-day clashes have killed 82 and injured more than 150, according to local officials
- KP administration sent delegation to the area, convincing people to settle disputes amicably
PESHAWAR: Following days of clashes that left at least 82 people dead and injured more than 150 in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram district, provincial authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) said on Sunday the warring tribes had agreed to temporarily halt attacks and enforce a seven-day ceasefire.
The violence in the restive tribal district bordering Afghanistan began on Thursday when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community, killing 41 people.
Clashes intensified over the next two days, with sporadic gunfire reported in multiple areas of the district, taking the death toll to 82, according to local officials.
“Both sides agreed on a seven-day ceasefire and to return each other’s prisoners and bodies,” provincial government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said in a statement.
The development comes just a day after KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the provincial authorities were working toward a ceasefire, adding they would formulate a strategy to address such deadly incidents in consultation with local elders.
Gandapur chaired a meeting via video link to evaluate the situation with officials after his administration dispatched a delegation to Kurram to engage with tribal leaders.
“After meeting Shiite elders a day before, today the jirga [tribal council] members met with Sunni elders, convincing both sides to implement the seven-day ceasefire and settle their disputes amicably,” Saif added.
The clashes in Kurram mark one of the deadliest incidents in the region in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
The KP chief minister noted on Saturday establishing peace in the area was his government’s top priority.
Around 300 families fled on Saturday as gunfights involving both light and heavy weapons continued into the night. However, no fresh casualties were reported on Sunday morning.
Police have regularly struggled to stem violence in Kurram, which was part of the semi-autonomous Federally Administered Tribal Areas until its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018.
Earlier on Sunday, KP’s Law Minister Aftab Alam Afridi said the provincial administration’s priority was to broker a ceasefire.
“Once that is achieved, we can begin addressing the underlying issues,” he said.
Several hundred people demonstrated against the Kurram violence in Pakistan’s two largest cities, Lahore and Karachi, reflecting nationwide concern over the situation.
With inputs from AFP
