Prime Minister Imran Khan promises Sikh pilgrims necessary facilities, says wants civilised ties with India.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday performed the groundbreaking of the long-awaited corridor]1 connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal district to Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district.

Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, spent more than 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. The proposal for the corridor was on the table since 1988, when Pakistan and India agreed in principle to construct it but tense relations between both sides prevented progress on the plan.

In the absence of the corridor, Sikh devotees would gather near the border fence and offer prayers with the gurdwara in sight ─ with some of them even using binoculars to better view the temple.

A large number of Sikh yatris ─ both local and Indian ─ along with visiting Indian Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep S. Puri, and Indian Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu were invited to attend the ceremony, along with other foreign diplomats and journalists.

Indian Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, left, and Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, centre, make their way from the Indian side of the border at Attari to Wagah. — AP

The Indian ministers are greeted at Wagah by Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria. ─ Photo courtesy Harsimrat Kaur Badal Twitter

Indian Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur prostrates herself on the soil in Kartarpur with the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in view. ─ Photo courtesy Harsimrat Kaur Badal Twitter

Indian Member of Parliament Gurjeet Singh Aujla (C) holds a pot containing water from the Sikh Golden Temple in Amritsar as he takes part in a groundbreaking ceremony. — AFP

Prime Minister Imran Khan performs the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor alongside Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Indian Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Badal and Puri. ─ APP

Prime Minister Imran Khan (C) alongside Indian Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal (2R) and India's Punjab cabinet minister and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu (3L), arrive to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor. — AFP

Pakistan Army soldiers gather in front of Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib during the groundbreaking ceremony. — AFP

A view of the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. — AFP

Pakistani Sikhs walk to the main event of the groundbreaking ceremony. — AFP

Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor. — AFP

India's Punjab cabinet minister and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor. — AFP

Visiting Indian Sikh pilgrims attend the groundbreaking ceremony in Kartarpur. — AP

Sikh Pilgrims gather in the Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after the groundbreaking ceremony.— AFP

Sikh children shout slogans in front of the Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Kartarpur Corridor. — AFP

Sikh Pilgrims partake in Langar in front of Kartarpur Gurdwara Sahib after the groundbreaking ceremony. — AFP

Indian Union minister Harsimrat Kaur partakes in Langar. ─ Photo courtesy Harsimrat Kaur Badal Twitter

Indian Union minister Harsimrat Kaur takes part in Kar Seva. ─ Photo courtesy Harsimrat Kaur Badal Twitter

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Commandant Sudeep (3L), escorts Harsimrat Kaur Badal (C) and Hardeep Singh Puri (2R) over to Attari from Wagah after they attended the Kartarpur groundbreaking ceremony about 35km from Amritsar. ─ AFP