'Corridor of Peace': Pakistan & India move to open historic Kartarpur border crossing

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Pakistan and India are doing something that may help improve their strained relations. In a rare move, the neighboring countries are working to open a new border crossing. Danial Khan has this story.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has done what no previous Pakistani government could achieve in the last seven decades. He has led an effort to begin building a border crossing, dubbed the "corridor of peace" with India. It's part of a 2019 celebration to mark the 550th birthday anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion.

DANIAL KHAN KARTARPUR, PAKISTAN "Many have hoped the proposed Kartarpur Corridor would act as a bridge between the people of Pakistan and India and provide visa-free access to the Indian Sikh pilgrims who want to visit a shrine of their spiritual leader."

Many of the Sikh pilgrims along with ministers from both sides and foreign diplomats were on hand to celebrate the historic event. In the first phase of the project, a boarding terminal will be set up near the border. Transportation will be arranged to shuttle thousands of pilgrims with a special permit to the temple. An 800-metre-long bridge will also be built across the River Ravi.

RAJDEEP SARDESAI INDIAN JOURNALIST "I see it as a small step but a positive step. I don't think that it's going to change the relationships overnight, but at least I can say this much, that the two countries have taken a step."

Many believe the step will help ease tensions between the nuclear rivals.

NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU INDIAN POLITICIAN "The Indian constitution says, 'No discrimination on the basis of cast, color or creed.' Baba Nanak said this 550 years ago, but there is always an angel that comes to help."

It was an emotional moment for those in attendance. Many have waited over 70 years for this day.

SARDAR MOHAN SINGH SIKH PILGRIM "I don't have words to express how happy I am. We have waited for this day since 1947."

KASHMIR SINGH SIKH PILGRIM "Our culture is the same, our language is the same, we eat the same food and wear the same clothes. We were like two separated brothers, reuniting once again!"

SANTOK SINGH SIKH PILGRIM "This is a very important place for us, just like Muslims have Makkah and Madina, similarly, we have this place."

Kartarpur is a small town four kilometers from the Pakistan-India border, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.

ORYA MAQBOOL JAN PAKISTANI COLUMNIST "People living across the border, they were just seeing their most sacred place with tears in their eyes, and perhaps for the first time in 70 years, the tears have been removed."

Many believe the corridor will bring peace and prosperity for citizens of both countries and prove to be a building block for ending the decades long conflict. Danial Khan, CGTN, Kartarpur, Southern Pakistan.