Indian and Pakistani officials unite for Kartarpur corridor ceremony

Muscat: Pakistan’s Prime Minster Imran Khan will lay the foundation stone for the long-awaited corridor that connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal district in Pakistan with Dera Baba Nanak in India's Gurdaspur district.
According to Pakistan Television News, the state news channel, the event will be attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, key government officials, Indian ministers, and foreign diplomats.
In an online statement the Government of Pakistan said, “The initiative has been lauded as a step towards building a bridge between India and Pakistan.”
Officials from the current ruling party, Tehreek-e-Insaf, took to twitter saying Pakistan has made clear its peaceful intentions and belief in regional harmony and it became concrete as Khan lays the foundation stone for the opening of the Kartarpur Border.
“Everyone is all smiles and glowing with the hope of peace in the reception held for Indian delegation at Lahore fort before the historic event of the foundation stone laying ceremony for Kartarpur Sahib corridor,” a statement on the official twitter account of the party read.
Moreover, Dr Mohammad Faisal, Foreign Office Spokesperson from Pakistan said that the world has come together for the Pakistan-Kartarpur spirit where diplomats are attending the ceremony by PM Khan.
“The journey begins. We move towards peace which has remained elusive. A huge success for Pakistan. A dream coming true for the Sikhs,” he added.
Earlier this week, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan extended his invitation to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu to attend the "groundbreaking ceremony".
However, Swaraj thanked Qureshi and said “since I am unable to travel to Kartarpur Sahib on the scheduled date, Government of India will be represented by my esteemed colleagues Mrs. Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Mr. H.S.Puri.
“We hope that the Government of Pakistan will expedite construction of the corridor in order to ensure that our citizens can pay their respects at the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor as soon as possible.”