Union Ministers Hardeep Puri and Harsimrat Kaur Badal attended the ground-breaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan on Wednesday.

The corridor will facilitate the visa-free travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor along with Mr Puri and Ms. Badal. Mr Khan, said, all facilities will be provided to the pilgrims at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Badal said, it is a historic day for the Sikh community and expressed hope that peace will prevail between the two countries. She said, the Kartapur corridor will spread the message of peace and harmony among people of the two sides.

In a statement, Mr. Puri expressed gratitude to the Pakistan government and said that this was a long-standing demand of the Sikh community.

Minister in Punjab government Navjot Singh Sidhu said, India and Pakistan should realise that there is a need to move forward.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor in Indian side up to the international border with Pakistan at village Mann in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on Monday.

Meanwhile, India has condemned the remarks of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Jammu and Kashmir calling it as unwarranted.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, it is deeply regrettable that the Pak Prime Minister chose to politicise a pious occasion meant to realise the long pending demand of the Sikh community to develop a Kartarpur corridor.

Mr Kumar said, Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India.  He was responding to queries regarding the reference to “Kashmir” by the Pakistan Prime Minister.

He said, Pakistan must fulfil its international obligations and take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and all kind of support to cross-border terrorism from territories under its control.