“Don’t Fight Wars With Neighbors”: Maryam Nawaz’s Kartarpur Friendship Bid for India and Pakistan

Never start conflicts with your neighbors. In what seemed to be an outreach by the new administration in Islamabad, Punjab state Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz argued on Friday for stronger connections between India and Pakistan, saying “open the doors of friendship… open the doors of your hearts.”

During her address at Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, Maryam mentioned her father, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, advocating for a change from animosity to friendship. Speaking to a crowd of over 3,000 Sikh pilgrims from India, Maryam emphasized the importance of promoting friendship between the two countries.

In her statement, the chief of Pakistan’s most populated area emphasized the common ancestry of the Punjabi people on both sides of the border by mentioning her family’s origins in the Indian city of Amritsar. Maryam also emphasized the need for cross-border collaboration, praising the appointment of Pakistan’s first Sikh minister, according to The Indian Express.

Maryam’s comments highlight a personal link to the common history of the two countries as they are reminiscent of her grandfather’s journey from Jatti Umra in India to Lahore in Pakistan. “Once, a person arrived from Jatti Umra in India. She said, “He brought soil from there, so I put it on my grandfather’s grave,” emphasizing the strong emotional connection between the two nations.

Her speech deviates from conventional discourse and suggests that Pakistan’s stance toward India may change. This outreach coincides with India’s continuous emphasis on Pakistan’s need to take verifiable, credible, and irreversible steps to put a stop to cross-border terrorism. In bilateral, regional, and international forums, India persistently brings up Pakistan’s ongoing encouragement of terrorist infiltration and cross-border terrorism.

In a recent exclusive interview with Network18, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh sent a severe warning to Pakistan. According to him, the government would respond appropriately to any terrorist who attempts to undermine the stability of India. We will pursue the terrorist and bring him down on Pakistani territory if he manages to escape to that country. Narendra Modi, the prime minister, has spoken what is true. India is capable, and Pakistan has begun to realize that as well, according to Singh.