Pakistan is a safe country for religious minorities. No doubt acts of violence occur now and then but the state’s reaction is in keeping with the law. Recently, the act of incitement of violence, on camera, against Sikhs in Nankana Saheb has been appropriately addressed by the police. The prime minister took prompt note of the act. Such isolated incidents should not fog the spirit created by the launch of the Kartarpur Corridor. The peace corridor is a game-changer and has the potential to transform the nature of people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan. Such contact is key to achieving peace and prosperity in the region. Unfortunately, leaders like Indian Prime Minister Modi have long been stoking the fires of hatred and terror. Due to his policies of hate cross-border movement of people has declined. Pakistan’s initiative of opening the Kartarpur Corridor is only the beginning of a thaw in ties between the people of two countries. Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, while speaking at a conference of Punjab History and Culture in Lahore, highlighted the shared culture of both sides, which has the potential to bring both countries closer. The National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR), a Center of Excellence in Quaid-i-Azam University, the organiser of the conference, has done a lot of work on the compilation and preservation of the culture of Punjab of pre- and post-Partition times.
People on either side of the divide have an inclination to cross over to the other part and see what has been left behind, and what can be resurrected. Hatred on the basis of religion is one of the most lethal killers that humanity has suffered so far. Prof Dr Sajid Awan, the director of the NIHCR, says Punjab has always defended itself against foreign invaders and its people share culture, language and much more. Each and every village and city on either side of Punjab is rich with the cultural heritage of Sikhs and Muslims, which should be acknowledged. It is good that the prime minister has taken notice of the violence and every effort should be made to stop it before it escalates. *