Kartarpur Corridor: A Step towards Peace.

Kartarpur Corridor: is a Confidence Building Measure and an important step between two hostile neighbors (India and Pakistan). The corridor of Kartarpur links India's Baba Nanak Dera in Gurdaspur to Pakistan's Baba Sahib gurudwara. Both places are of immense importance to Sikhs, religiously. This Corridor can play harmonizing role in Indo-Pak rivalry in various ways. An Indian Sikh politician, Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Kartarpur Corridor inaugural ceremony that this corridor will increase people to people contact which will lead to normalize the relations between Pakistan and India. The aim of this study is to find out the economic, diplomatic and religious importance of Kartarpur corridor and its role in normalizing the relations between Pakistan and India. Descriptive and analytical method is used for interpretation of secondary data. The two states did not have good relations, a number of issues and challenges are involved in building this corridor but still it is expected that this corridor will play vital role in imparting peace between India and Pakistan. Religious affection of Sikh community from both states cannot be denied and henceforth some of the prominent Sikh leaders from both states stand for establishing of Kartarpur corridor. Economically Kartarpur corridor is important too, rise in people to people interaction will improve tourism in the area which will lead to economic growth of Pakistan. About $300 million per year economic gains are estimated that this corridor may produce. Not only the visa but other facilities like hoteling, food and infrastructure will make economic advantage. Even Imran Khan (Pakistan's Prime Minister) said that this corridor will be a first step towards better economic relations between Pakistan and India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]