Pak army aiding Kashmir terrorists entry to Punjab: Amarinder Singh

Speaking to NDTV, Singh said: "They are trying to bring Kashmiri terrorists and Punjabi terrorists together... It is not Imran Khan doing it, I am sure, it is his army."

Singh had cited this very reason to refuse Pakistan's invitation to the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister said that while there have been logistical collaborations between terrorists from the two states in the past, this is the first time an "armed tie-up" has come to light.

"We came across them in college, saw them pick up weapons, and followed them into their hostels, where we caught them with additional weapons and additional explosives. And this has happened twice. Now, this doesn't mean that all the 6,000 youngsters who're studying here (mean us any harm). They are very disciplined and everything is going fine there, but terror groups are trying to put people in and mix them up," he said.

Speaking on the Kartarpur corridor foundation stone-laying ceremony, Singh said: "While I welcome the Kartarpur initiative, I cannot -- as the chief minister of Punjab -- shift my vision completely to that while terrorists come here and kill our people. I am grateful to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for the Kartarpur corridor, but his army has no business doing this here."

At a time when Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh targeted Pakistan over the 'terrorist attacks' and even declined to visit the country, state Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu played the goodwill ambassador when he arrived in the neighbouring nation to attend the Katarpur corridor ground-breaking ceremony in Nankana Sahib.

While Congress in Punjab seemed to be split over its relationship with Pakistan, especially after a recent terror attack in Amritsar, Sidhu reaching the other side of border said he has brought with himself message of 'love and peace'.

Sidhu reached Lahore city through the Wagah Border and was quoted as saying by Geo News: "Karturpur corridor will prove to be a path of peace and instead of 60 years, happiness can come in six months through it."

He said: "This corridor will be the reason that borders between both the countries open."

"Religion should not be seen through the eyes of politics," Sidhu said.

The Punjab chief minister, however, clarified he had no objection to Navjot Singh Sidhu -- a minister in his cabinet -- accepting the invite to attend the ceremony. "Sidhu is not sending contradictory signals, he is a friend of Imran Khan."

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate the groundbreaking ceremony of the facilities at the crossing on the Pakistan side on November 28.

Kartarpur is a small town in district Narowal, 4 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: "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."