Kartarpur corridor will ‘enormously improve’ ties: Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during an event to inaugurate the passenger terminal building of the Kartarpur corridor on the Indian side, also known as Integrated Check Post, in Gurdaspur on November 9, 2019.

The opening of the Kartarpur corridor will “enormously improve” relations between India and Pakistan, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said on Saturday after he arrived here as part of the first batch of the Indian pilgrims through the cross-border pathway.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan formally inaugurated the historic corridor to facilitate the visa-free entry of Indian Sikh pilgrims.

Speaking to Pakistani reporters, the former prime minister termed the opening of the corridor as a “big moment”.

“India and Pakistan relations will improve enormously as a result of this beginning,” he said.

The 87-year-old two-time prime minister and his wife paid obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

Chief Minister Amarinder said the Sikh community has been waiting for a free passage for 70 years, and maintained that it is a good beginning,

The Nation newspaper reported.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee members and all the 117 MLAs and MPs from Punjab including ministers are also part of the first ‘jatha’

Speaking on the occasion, cricketer-politician Navjot Sidhu told Mr Khan, “You have won hearts.”