Sikhs await opening of corridor to sacred shrine in Pakistan

KARTARPUR: A corridor that will allow Sikhs to cross from India into Pakistan to visit one of the religion´s holiest sites is set to open Saturday, with thousands expected to make a pilgrimage interrupted by decades of conflict.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will see off the first group of pilgrims, and they will be welcomed by his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan at the shrine marking the grave of Sikhism´s founder Guru Nanak at Kartarpur, just four kilometres (two miles) inside Pakistan.

The deal allows for up to 5,000 pilgrims a day to cross a secure corridor and bridge between the two countries.

"They are very excited," custodian of the Kartarpur shrine Ramash Singh Arora told AFP Thursday, saying he hoped the initiative would pave the way for similar access to other Sikh sites in Pakistan in the future.

"If you look at the history, the foundation of Sikhism is from Pakistan."

In the months leading up to the opening, Pakistan employed hundreds of labourers to spruce up the shrine, including building a border immigration checkpoint and a bridge, as well as expanding the site´s grounds.

The opening comes just days ahead of the Guru Nanak´s 550th birthday on November 12, which is marked with celebrations by millions of Sikhs around the world.

"For over 70 years, pilgrims haven´t had the chance to cross over, to come over, and that is just... it´s just... it´s going to be a really emotional moment," said Karan Deep Singh, a pilgrim from Malaysia.

Others hoped the corridor would help mend ties between the rivals after years of hostility.

"It should improve and I´m hoping that it will improve. Definitely. Because the goodwill is oozing," said Bhajan Singh Grewal from Australia.