NEW DELHI, Mar 17:
Union Home Minister Amit Shah today advocated enhanced trade, cultural relations and people-to-people contact with the neighbouring countries and said there is bonding among the people as much of these areas were part of India before 1947.
Shah also expressed satisfaction over the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, connecting one of the holiest shrines of the Sikhs located in Pakistan with Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab, in 2019 while claiming there was an “error” and the place was left out of India during Partition.
Addressing an event organised on the occasion of the foundation day of the Land Port Authority (LPA) here, the Home Minister said India has a 15,000 km-long land boundary and “before 1947, we were together”.
“We have similar culture, we have similar languages, we have bonding. There are opportunities to enhance trade relations, cultural ties and people-to-people contact. The authority (LPA) can enhance trade with the neighbouring countries without compromising border security.
“The authority can ensure strengthening cultural relations with the neighbouring countries as people living along the border have the same culture, language and lifestyle. It can also help in enhancing people-to-people contacts in addition to the diplomatic relations of with these countries,” he said.
Shah said India’s 15,000 km-long borders with Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan offer different challenges every 50 km.
“There is hardly any country in the world which has so many challenges along their land borders. Also, there is hardly any country which has so many opportunities that India has along its land border,” he said.(PTI)
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