APROPOS Kartarpur border opening. While Kashmir is bleeding, our canals in Bahawalpur region are drying and poor farmers selling cattle at throwaway prices for lack of fodder, we laid the foundation of a corridor as a gesture of goodwill for India. Let us also note what Indian foreign minister said, while the Indian army chief threatened to attack Pakistan and Kashmir. This is the reward we got.

Since we are committed to peace, we must lay down some rules. The following may be considered: Only pilgrims aged 60 and above be allowed to enter Pakistan without a visa. A younger person accompanying an elderly handicapped person may be given a visa at the entry point. All others should obtain a visa from the embassy.

Also, there should be a cap on the number of persons allowed to enter in a day and the duration of their stay be notified. Nobody should be allowed to bring swords and daggers.

In 1947 I was a Class VII student and lived in Lahore. Most of my relatives lived in Delhi and East Punjab. While coming to Pakistan one of my cousins (who had just passed his BSc) was killed near Atari and another was badly mauled but survived. Who did that?

Past atrocities by individuals and nations may be forgiven but not forgotten as we move forward. Although Sikhs form about 10pc of the Indian population, their number in security forces is more than 20pc. We need not go too far to please the Sikh community.

Brig (retired) Khalid Hassan Mahmood

Karachi

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I WOULD like to share my happiness about the opening of the Kartapur border. I thank the government for being so generous to the Sikh community.

As a Sikh from west Punjab who has lived in Lahore forever, I would like to thank WaheguruAlmighty for granting us darshan deedaar. It makes me so happy that Sikhs from both sides of the border will be able to offer pilgrimage in a peaceful environment. This is a historic event which has made this 70-year-old man very happy.

Sardar Jaiveer Singh Dhoomi

Lahore

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2018