Amritsar, November 23: Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday wrote to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressing his gratitude to the Narendra Modi government for taking an initiative to open Kartarpur Corridor. Sidhu in his letter expressed hope that the Indian government's move would improve relations between the two countries. Sidhu wrote, “This enterprise will yield undeniable and implicit change and thaw in the relations. He also added, “It will build bridges, burn animosity and will act like a soothing balm for two neighbouring countries.”

Earlier in the day, Sidhu thanked the Modi government and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for opening the corridor. The Punjab Minister tweeted, “I thank the Govt. of India from the core of my heart and take a bow! I request the Hon’ble PM of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI Sahib to take reciprocal steps for opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and spread Baba Nanak’s message of universal brotherhood and peace across the Globe.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also invited the Punjab Minister for the opening ceremony of the corridor. Yesterday in a landmark decision, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, along with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced that the corridor -- stretching from Dera Baba Nanak to Kartarpur on the other side of the border -- would be functional in October 2019 on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Responding to India’s request, the Pakistan government has also agreed to build the corridor on its side. The Pakistan PM will visit Kartarpur on November 28 to lay the foundation stone for the event.

Meanwhile, President Ram Nath Kovind and Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will lay the foundation stone for Kartarpur Corridor at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur on November 26. After his Pakistan visit to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Khan in August, Sidhu claimed that the Pakistan Army Chief assured him of opening the Kartarpur Corridor on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2018 07:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).