Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan Cover Image

Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan
Kartarpur Sahib Corridor: Interfaith Harmony in Pakistan

Author(s): Akhtar Hussain Sandhu
Subject(s): Political history, Islam studies, Comparative Studies of Religion, Government/Political systems, Politics and religion, Politics and society, Inter-Ethnic Relations, Ethnic Minorities Studies, Sociology of Religion, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: EDIS- Publishing Institution of the University of Zilina
Keywords: interfaith harmony; culture; Mughal; Sikhism; Islam; minority; Kartarpur; Guru Nanak Dev; Punjab; Pakistan; Guru; Indo-Pakistan politics;

Summary/Abstract: The Kartarpur corridor between India and Pakistan has opened a plethora of divergent paradoxical perceptions: some consider that it would be a ‘corridor of peace’ whereas some believe that it would be a ‘corridor of terror.’ Some hold that this Corridor would empower the Qadiani community, whereas some maintain that it would enhance the influence of the Sikhs on both sides of the Corridor. Gurharpal Singh, Jagtar Singh, Bhabishan Singh Goraya, Gurmeet Kaur and politicians such as Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and others presented the Kartarpur Corridor as a gateway to peace in the region while a section of the media of Delhi declared it a ‘corridor of terror.’ Overall, a large number of the Sikhs and Muslims are delighted on the construction of the Corridor who consider it a dawn of new age. The prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has been ardently applauded for goodwill for the Sikhs. In addition, many appreciate the significant contributions of Pakistan’s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, and the Indian politician, Navjot Singh Sidhu. This year, the Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians in Pakistan have celebrated the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Sahib happily at Kartarpur and Nankana Sahib, which means that the possibilities of new horizons of peace and interfaith harmony have been opened in the region in celebrating the event together as one community implies the emergence of the belief in shared humanity, peaceful coexistence, and interfaith harmony. This project created a kind of Punjabi nationalism by combining the Indian Punjabi Sikhs and the Pakistani Punjabi Muslims. Pakistan took the initiative for opening the Corridor just for the goodwill of the people of two countries.

  • Issue Year: 6/2019
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 101-117
  • Page Count: 17
  • Language: English