new Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday advocated for increasing trade and cultural relations and people-to-people contacts with neighboring countries and said that there is a bond between the people of these countries because of these. Many regions were part of India before 1947. Shah expressed satisfaction over the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in 2019 and claimed that there was an “error” at that time and the site was taken out of India during Partition. The Kartarpur Corridor connects Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak Gurdwara in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, spent the last days of his life at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
Shah said at a function organized here on the foundation day of the Land Ports Authority of India (LPA) that India has a land border of 15,000 km and “we were together before 1947”. “We have the same culture, we speak the same languages, we have a connection. There are opportunities to enhance business ties, cultural ties and people-to-people contacts. Authority (LPA) can enhance trade with neighboring countries without compromising on border security.”
On the occasion of the foundation day of Land Port Authority, E-inaugurated Attari Bhoomi residential complex for the personnel of Border Guarding Force which will provide better residential facility to the security personnel.
Along with this, Karma Yogis working on land ports were also honored for their excellent service. pic.twitter.com/0htLrqAefS
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) March 17, 2022
Shah said, “People living near the border have the same culture, language and lifestyle. In such a situation, the authority can ensure the strengthening of cultural ties with neighboring countries. Apart from diplomatic relations with these countries, it can also help in increasing people-to-people contacts. Shah said India’s 15,000-km-long borders with Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan present different challenges every 50 km. He said, “There is hardly any country in the world which has so many challenges on its land borders. Also, there is hardly any country in the world, which has so many opportunities on its border like India.
The Home Minister said that the country is moving ahead on the journey of ‘Self-reliant India’ as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India will be among the top countries of the world in the coming 10 years with the manufacture of many items. He said, “But what will we do after manufacturing so many things? We have to create new business opportunities in these seven countries and this is possible through land routes.” Shah suggested that the LPA maintain regular liaison and meetings with the Central Armed Police Forces and other security agencies guarding the borders and remain vigilant. He said, “Because through land routes, someone can threaten the country. People-to-people contact near the border can be a good way to avoid any major danger.”
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The Home Minister thanked the LPA for building the Kartarpur Corridor in the shortest possible time and said that the India-Pakistan pilgrimage route has created a lot of goodwill among Sikh and Hindu pilgrims to the LPA. He said, “An error occurred at the time of partition. This (Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara) is just six kilometers away from the border with Pakistan. I don’t know how it was left out. There must have been some mistake. Maybe (at that time) no one noticed this.” Shah said, “There was some regret during the Gurpurab, but the Kartarpur corridor has given people an opportunity to visit the Gurudwara and have darshan. People are grateful to the authority for this and appreciate it.”
Shah said trade between the two countries has increased with the creation of a trade corridor between India and Bangladesh. He said that many land routes in the world have contributed significantly to the economies of different countries. He said that India and China are the two countries which have used such trade corridors for centuries. Referring to the dispatch of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan via Pakistan, Shah said that even though the consignment is a gift from India to Afghanistan, the route could also be used for trade in future. He asked the LPA to set a target of increasing trade through land routes in the next 25 years. (agency)