US Welcomes Pakistan’s Kartarpur Corridor Initiative and People-to-People Engagement

WASHINGTON: While hailing Pakistan’s initiative of opening Kartarpur Corridor, the US State Department has said it welcomes efforts to increase people-to-people contact between India and Pakistan, ARY News reported on Thursday.<br /><br />In a statement, the State Department said that “we encourage steps that build confidence and foster dialogue between the two countries.”<br /><br />The State Department further said that “the normalization of relations between Pakistan and India is vital to both countries, and the region.”<br /><br />Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur Corridor in Narowal that will connect with India’s Gurdaspur district. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other government officials.<br /><br />Former Indian cricketer and member of Punjab cabinet Navjot Singh Sidhu and other Indian ministers were also present at the occasion,<br /><br />Talking to audience at the inaugural ceremony, Sidhu said “whenever the history of Kartarpur Sahib will be written, name of Imran Khan will be on the top,” because it is a miracle which could not take place in 73 years, but happened within three months with Khan’s initiative.<br /><br />Calling Pakistani PM an angel for his peace-efforts, Sidhu urged to end all bloodshed between the two countries and thanked the government and army of Pakistan for their positive step.