kartarpur: PoW's wife asks for her return from Pakistan as decision on Kartarpur corridor gives rise to new hope

JAMMU: Nirmal Kour, struggling for four decades to secure the release of her husband, one of the 54 prisoners of war incarcerated in various Pakistani prisons since the 1971 war, sees a new glimmer of hope.

While India and Pakistan agree to open the "Kartarpur Sahib Corridor" intended to facilitate the passage of Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Kour, wife of Subedar Assa Singh, said hope that this would contribute to a thaw and the two countries will discuss the issue of prisoners of war to ensure their rapid return.

"My children have been waiting for their father for 47 years, and nothing could be a better confidence-building measure than this (to ensure the return of PoW)," she said, sending a moving appeal to the prime minister. Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj to release prisoners.

"We hope that the Kartarpur corridor brings the two countries closer together and that our suffering will stop by finding where the prisoners are and ensuring their quick return to their families," she told reporters at her Nanak residence. Nagar, here.

Kour said that she went to Pakistan in 2008 with the other families of prisoners of war after meeting with the Pakistani president of the time, Pervez Musharraf, but came back disappointed because she was born there. Had not been allowed to visit all the prisoners.

"We hope that our prayers will be answered soon, and we hope that India and Pakistan will make a sincere effort to ensure the return of the prisoners of war," she said.

Kour said that in the absence of any help, she faced many difficulties while raising her five daughters and two sons, and was working as a domestic helper to meet their needs.

She said that the head of the Congress, Navjot Singh Sidhu, had helped them in the past and said: "We hope that he will raise our problem with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, in order to put an end to our sufferings. ".

Singh's children said that the family had not lost hope despite the long ordeal.

"I want to see my father and that's my wish.I am sure my wish will come true," said one of his daughters.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on Monday. The decision to build the passage – from Dera Baba Nanak in the Gurdaspur district to the international border – was taken by the Cabinet of the Union on 22 November.

Kartarpur is located in Shakargarh in the Narowal district of Punjab, Pakistan. Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, had spent more than 18 years there.