The opening of the Kartarpur Corridor has been described as quite historic. Post-August 5, tensions between India and Pakistan have risen even more. Thus, many were surprised that the two countries still went ahead and opened the corridor for Sikh pilgrims.

I was at the groundbreaking ceremony at Kartarpur last year when Prime Minister Imran Khan announced plans to build the corridor. There was nothing much there except the Gurdwara at that time so one wasn’t sure if the ambitious plan would indeed materialise so fast…but it did. When one set foot into the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9 for the opening ceremony, the plan had indeed turned into a reality. Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur sprawls across acres of land in Narowal district.

The scenes at the opening ceremony were heartwarming. Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from Pakistan, India and across the world were present at the opening. Some of them were sitting on the floor – on the white chadors laid out with colourful cushions across the stage, while others were inside the Gurdwara performing the Sikh ritual of ‘matha tekna’ (bowing heads in worship). Sikh pilgrims say ‘Baba ji ki mehar’ (Baba Guru Nanak’s blessings) led to the opening at Babar Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary.

An old lady from Patiala said it was indeed a miracle that the Kartarpur Corridor has been made in less than a year. Others told me that this was their lifelong wish to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib. A Sikh pilgrim from India who was a retired vice chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University praised the government of Pakistan for turning the Gurdwara into a majestic complex.

Another pilgrim who was performing the duties of a kar sevak (selfless service of others) at a shoe stall said that he was very happy with the reception the Sikhs got here.

Indian media has stoked the issue of Khalistan Movement and has alleged that the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is related to reigniting the militant movement. Veteran Indian journalist Chanchal Manohar Singh said that he was not happy with the insinuation that Kartarpur Corridor had anything to do with the Khalistan Movement. “They’re whipping us up by saying some of us can turn into militants by visiting Kartarpur. A lot of us come to Pakistan from India for our pilgrimage; sometimes three to four times. If we haven’t turned into militants during those times, how will Kartarpur change it in a few hours?”

Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh, former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, former CM Punjab Parkash Singh Badal (also known as Baba Badal) and many other VVIPs from India visited the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. It shows the importance of Kartarpur – one of the holiest shrines for the Sikh community – that someone like Manmohan Singh, who was not allowed by his party to visit Pakistan while he was the premier, had finally come now to matha teko.

Opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is not just a positive development but also sends out a message that Pakistan will not keep Sikh pilgrims hostage to the tension between India and Pakistan.

The writer is a journalist based in Lahore