India says Kartarpur survived despite Pulwama, Art 370 as 'power larger than' Imran pushed it

But those in the know of things say India's security establishment is "very very conscious" of the pitfalls as there have been 'sporadic reports' of Sikhs radicalisation in the Gurudwaras there.

To a question, the source said having sat over the project for 19 years, since August 2018, the Pakistan government took up the Kartarpur project with some kind of a 'military zeal'.

"It was done with great deal of enthusiasm....," the source said, adding that it ought to be appreciated that

the Kartarpur project survived two major bilateral crisis - the Pulwama terror strike and also the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There were escalated rhetoric on everything else but the Kartarpur corridor survived. That only shows that power larger than the popular government and the civil leadership in Pakistan has been pushing it," the source maintained.  

Against this backdrop the source clarified - "We are doing everything to ensure that there is security compromise".

"However, the big picture remains we have concerns about Pakistan has been attempting to achieve its sinister and larger objectives, but we see opening of the Kartarpur Corridor as essentially a positive step for the pilgrims," the source maintained.

It has been clarified from New Delhi that the request to open the corridor - about 4.7 kilometres from the Pakistan-India border - is pending since 1999 when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal had raised it in the month of February during the famous Bus Yatra to Lahore.

It is important to note that when it comes to Pakistan, it ought to be remembered that it is a huge propaganda machine and has often tried to abuse media as well.

Indian security agencies and officials seem to appreciate that Pakistan on one hand has tried to project its 'softer face' in terms of welcoming minorities and improving people to people ties - but the "mask has sometime slipped".

"In fact, on occasions the unstated objective has come out in the open. Everyone recalls how Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it was a 'googlie' and then President of Pakistan had said Kartarpur was a great chess move".

However, the Government of India says, "The corridor project is linked to people's faith and hence India took a conscious decision".
But from New Delhi's perspective, the project is seen as a 'corridor of and an instrument to move ahead'.

"It was taken up with good intention and thus could not be seen as a mistake...," the source said . Nevertheless , Pakistan's intent and India's security concerns are of paramount importance.

The apprehensions of Indian agencies have been endorsed by Punjab Chief Capt Amarinder Singh who said lately that he always doubted the intention of Pak spy agency ISI.
"It is understood that Pakistan's strategic move has been to have a better leverage in possibly promoting separatist movement in Punjab. They could try to leverage the issue of Khalistan and there are talks of linking the entire matter to some Kashmiri terror groups," the source explained.

Moreover, there have been many moves to drive a wedge between Sikhs and Hindus between the Modi government and Punjab government, which is under Congress rule.
There was deliberate attempt to play up the role of former cricketer Novjyot Siddhu for instance.

WHAT IS KATARPUR CORRIDOR

Kartarpur is a small town in district Narowal, 4.7 km from the Pakistan- India border, where the founder of the Sikh religion, Baba Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.

Subsequently, Gurdwara Darbar Sahab was built at the site on the Pakistan side and Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak in India, which are visited by thousands of Sikhs every year.

As per the Pakistan Foreign Office statement released earlier: "Opening the corridor will allow Sikh Yatrees ease of access for their most reverential place of worship which has been their longstanding demand. This is also reflective of the importance and primacy that Pakistan gives to all minorities."  

The corridor is intended to allow religious devotees from India (mainly Sikhs) to visit the Gurdwara in Kartarpur without a visa.