Amritsar: The Indo-Pak joint check-post at Wagah (around 25 kms from the city of Amritsar) has always been a passage for peace between the two neighbours even in the most turbulent times - be it the Kargil insurgency or the Parliament attack or the never-ending J&K infiltration issue.

After the partition in August 1947, a joint check-post was established at Wagah on October 11, 1947. Amritsar lies on this side of Wagah and on the other side, almost at the same distance from the check- post, is Lahore. The two cities of Amritsar and Lahore lay divided by the Radcliffe Line. Since both the cities are quite similar culturally, they are sometimes called as the twin cities. Though politically and geographically the two nations stand separated, the general public of both Pakistan and India have not fully accepted this man-made border, as is obvious from the number of people from both the nations crossing over to the other nation through this passage.

Wagah has ever since proved to be a passage for the message of peace though in different ways for different people. The bus service between Delhi and Lahore that was started by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in March 2001 crosses over to Pakistan through the same thus connecting the people of both the nations to their kin abroad. Though the link was snapped after the Parliament attack in December 2001, the resumption in July is yet another milestone in the peace process.

The point is vital to pilgrims of both sides. Pakistani Sikhs cross over to India to pay their obeisance at Anandpur Sahib. The Sikh shrines in Pakistan are a star attraction for Indian pilgrims as well with Jathas moving on every year to visit these holy places. Sikh devotees cross over every year to celebrate the Baisakhi festival at Gurudwara Panja Sahib and also Guru Nanak's birthday celebrations at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan. Even Hindu devotees eagerly wait to throng the famous temples like Shiv temple or the Hinglaaj Devi temple. Similarly, group of devotees from Pak also cross over to India to pay obeisance at various temples in the country. As if pilgrims passing through Wagah from India to Pak and vice-versa, invoke God's blessings to dissolve the boundaries once again.

Even from the trade point of view, the place holds its importance. The dry-fruits from Afghanistan enter India through Wagah after passing through Pakistan. Wagah also acts like a Transit point for exporting Indian goods to Afghanistan, thus making enormous contribution to make both the nations flourish economically. The snapping to this trade links puts the economy of both the nations under crisis. After the trade links were cut off due to internal disturbances, the processing units in the region were a terrible crisis and had to be shifted or closed.