Sidhu calls for resuming trade between Pakistan, India

Former cricketer arrives in Pakistan to pay homage to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib

LAHORE:

Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said that trade between Pakistan and India should resume so that both the countries could get closer to each other.

Pakistan had suspended bilateral trade with India on August 9, 2019 after “the Indian government’s unilateral action to change the status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.

Sidhu gave these remarks after crossing into Pakistan via the Kartarpur Corridor to pay homage to Gurdwara Sri Kartarpur Sahib.

Pakistani officials welcomed Sidhu with garlands and rose petals. "Imran Khan is my elder brother. He has given me a lot of love," said the former cricketer on arrival.

Thousands of Sikh pilgrims from across the globe have gathered in the Nankana Sahib district of Punjab to celebrate the 552nd birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of their religion.

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The 10-day celebrations began on Wednesday in Nankana Sahib – the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak with Akhand Path, a reading of 1,430 pages of the holy book of Sikhism, the Granth Sahib.

Pakistan is home to some of the most important pilgrimage sites for Sikhs. They include the birthplace of Baba Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469, Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, and Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal.

Sikhs from Afghanistan have arrived in Pakistan through the Torkham border and a group of Indian Sikh pilgrims has arrived on November 17 through the Wagah border. During the celebrations, Sikh pilgrims will also be visiting Darbar Kartarpur Sahib.