Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'A very sensitive issue' that was published in Newsband

A very sensitive issue

India and Pakistan announced in November they would operationalise a corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan’s Punjab. Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened the initiative’s potential to the fall of the Berlin Wall. What has followed, however, is round upon round of wrangling between the two governments over every detail. Security agencies have voiced concerns about a possible attempt by Pakistan’s military establishment to use the corridor to fuel separatist Khalistani sentiment. Now this is become a very sensitive issue.

Pakistan’s support to separatist Sikh groups goes back several decades. India must work to secure its border from the threat even as it opens the gates for thousands of pilgrims to travel to Pakistan. National security must get priority.

India half-heartedly agreed to Pakistani proposal for opening Kartarpur corridor because it had no other option, and it will try utmost to thwart this initiative of Pakistan by raising necessary concerns sometimes on technical grounds, sometimes on perceived terrorism issues.

Pakistan government seems to be more sincere now than in the past context, but refused to talk to the present Indian government on the grounds that it was not reliable and the talks will only be after 2019 poll on kartarpur corridor. The BJP, of course, is keeping vote bank in mind.

This is a project announced by Pakistani Army's (PA), Gen Bajwa. Clearly, Imran Khan could not have taken this decision. It is PA that handles all India-related policies. Khalistan is a project dear to the PA from the early 1980s. Several Khalistani terrorists live in Pakistan and are protected by it. The PA wants to push us into talks through this ploy. PA's calculus is that if GoI refuses, there could be disaffection among Sikhs and if the corridor is opened, PA can re-kindle Khalistani extremism. PA wants to put us in a damned if you do or don’t kind of situation. We should also use our tactics.

There are some who suggest that Indian government should exchange with Pakistan our five trouble-making districts of Kashmir valley with areas like Kartarpur Sahib. This way, according to them, Radcliff line should not be allowed to affect our future. Now this is like doing injustice to Hindus or Muslims in order to do justice to Sikhs.