A cross-border tapestry of history, culture and untapped potential

Express Tribune

05-05-2025

The Thar Desert, stretching across northwestern India and southeastern Pakistan, represents far more than just an arid landscape - it stands as a living testament to centuries of shared history, culture and untapped economic potential. About 85 per cent of this vast desert lies within India's Rajasthan state while the remaining 15 per cent extends into Pakistan's Sindh province. Despite the political division created by the 1947 partition, the people of these regions remain deeply connected through language, traditions and enduring familial bonds.
This region was once a thriving trade corridor linking the Indian subcontinent with Central Asia, but today it symbolises missed opportunities for cross-border cooperation. While other divided regions like Punjab have established connections such as the Kartarpur Corridor, the Rajasthan-Sindh border remains largely neglected despite holding immense potential for trade, tourism and cultural exchange. The historical ties here run deep, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation that left its mark at sites like Kalibangan in Rajasthan and Mohenjo Daro in Sindh. Medieval periods saw close connections between Rajput kingdoms and Sindhi Sufi dynasties, creating a unique cultural synthesis where Hindu and Muslim traditions intertwined seamlessly.
The desert landscape is dotted with sacred sites that continue to draw pilgrims from both sides of the border. In Pakistan's Thar region, the Hinglaj Mata Temple stands as one of Hinduism's most important Shakti Peethas, while the Rama Pir Temple in Tando Allahyar attracts both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Across the border in Rajasthan, the Karni Mata Temple with its revered rats and the Brahma Temple at Pushkar hold deep significance for Pakistani Hindus, particularly those from Sindh. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah, resting place of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, remains a powerful spiritual draw for Muslims from both countries. Yet visa restrictions and political tensions make visiting these sites extraordinarily difficult for most.
The Khokhrapar-Munabao border crossing presents a particularly compelling opportunity for renewed connectivity. Before the partition, this route formed a vital link between Jodhpur and Karachi, facilitating the movement of goods and people. Today, what could be a 500 km direct journey requires a 3,000 km detour through Dubai due to the border closure. Reviving this crossing could dramatically reduce transport costs for key commodities like Rajasthan's construction stone and Sindh's handicrafts while reuniting divided families and enabling pilgrim travel. The potential economic benefits are substantial - Rajasthan's high-quality limestone could supply Sindh's construction boom, while India's affordable generic medicines could help address healthcare shortages in Pakistan's border regions.
Other divided regions around the world offer instructive examples of how borders can transform from barriers into bridges. The Kartarpur Corridor has shown how faith can transcend politics, allowing Sikh pilgrims to visit holy sites across the India-Pakistan border. The US-Mexico border, despite political tensions, generates over $1.7 billion in daily trade, while the China-Vietnam border has evolved from a war zone into a $1.7 billion annual trade corridor. These cases demonstrate that economic pragmatism can overcome even deep historical animosities.
Current trade statistics involving Pakistan and India reveal both the challenges and opportunities. The official trade figures reveal a striking imbalance. In 2023-24, Pakistan officially exported only $3 million worth of goods to India, while its imports from India reached $1.2 billion through Attari-Wagha border, but the thriving unofficial trade - estimated at $26.8 million in February 2025 alone - demonstrates the persistent demand for cross-border commerce. Establishing formal trade channels through Khokhrapar-Munabao could capture this existing economic activity while generating new opportunities in sectors like agriculture, textiles and tourism.
Realising this vision faces significant challenges, particularly political hesitancy and bureaucratic hurdles. Visa policies remain restrictive, and the Rajasthan-Sindh connection receives far less attention in bilateral talks than the Punjab or Kashmir borders. However, incremental steps could build momentum - starting with special pilgrimage visas, followed by limited trade agreements for specific goods, and eventually developing full-fledged economic cooperation. Civil society and business communities could play crucial roles in fostering people-to-people connections that create bottom-up pressure for change.
The Thar Desert stands at a crossroads - it can remain a symbol of division, or it can become a bridge linking two nations through shared heritage and mutual prosperity. The success of the Kartarpur Corridor proves that even small openings can have transformative effects. By reopening the Khokhrapar-Munabao route and fostering cross-border exchanges, India and Pakistan have an opportunity to write a new chapter in their relationship - one that honors their shared history while building a more connected future. The golden sands of Thar have witnessed centuries of cultural exchange; with vision and political will, they could once again become a meeting ground rather than a dividing line.