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Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Express Tribune
A cross-border tapestry of history, culture and untapped potential
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.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Time of India
3 of a Guj family among 4killed in fire at Ajmer hotel
Ajmer: A devastating fire broke out at a five-storey hotel in Ajmer's congested Diggi Bazaar area on Thursday morning, claiming four lives and leaving six others, including a firefighter, injured. The deceased include three members of a family from Gujarat, who had come to offer prayers at Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's dargah in Ajmer. The tragedy happened less than 48 hours after 14 people lost their lives in a Kolkata hotel blaze on Tuesday night. The fire started around 8am due to a suspected short circuit in an air conditioner on the fourth floor of Hotel Naaz, located along the route to the dargah, and quickly engulfed the whole building. The victims were trapped on the fifth floor. In a heroic rescue effort, civil defence personnel instructed a mother to throw her three-year-old son from the fourth floor, successfully catching him mid-air. The mother and child both survived. A youth who jumped from the building was also rescued by the team. Firefighters reached the spot within 20 minutes, but it took nearly three hours to control the blaze. "The narrow streets posed a significant challenge to the rescue operation," said additional district magistrate Gajendra Singh Rathore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sleek Intel Laptops Perfect for College Life Smart Picks by Lenovo Learn More Undo The district administration evacuated nearby establishments as a precautionary measure. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Jaid (40) from Moti Nagar in Delhi, and Alfez Mohammad (40), his wife Shabnam (32) and their four-year-old son Arman from Amreli in Gujarat. Firefighter Krishna Kumar and the five other injured are undergoing treatment at state govt-run JLN Hospital. JLN Medical College principal Dr Anil Samariya said one of the injured had sustained 90% burns, while the others had 50-60% burns. One of the guests, Manilal from Delhi, said he was checking out when there was a loud blast. He and his wife ran towards the exit to save themselves. District collector Lok Bandhu has ordered an investigation into the incident. The probe will look into all aspects, including whether the hotel, which has 11 rooms and can accommodate 22 guests, was constructed according to norms and was adhering to safety regulations.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- The Hindu
Four die, seven injured in massive fire at hotel in Ajmer
Four persons, including a four-year-old child, died and seven others were injured in a massive fire which broke out at a hotel in a congested locality at Ajmer in Rajasthan on Thursday. Some of the people staying at the five-storey hotel jumped from the windows in a bid to save their lives. The fire broke out at the ground floor of Hotel Naaz in Diggi Bazaar area, near the historic Ajmer Sharif Dargah, reportedly because of a short circuit in an air conditioner unit. While the fire engulfed the entire hotel building in a short time, the cramped lanes created difficulties for firefighters and hampered the rescue operation. Two men, a woman and a child succumbed to their injuries, while the condition of four of the injured persons was stated to be critical. Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Principal Anil Samaria said the patients undergoing treatment had 50% to 90% burn injuries. The fire could be extinguished after about three hours and the search operation was called off in the afternoon after evacuating all the people from the hotel as well as the nearby shops and buildings. Plumes of thick black smoke emanating from the hotel in the densely populated area could be seen billowing into the sky from a distance. Two persons jumped in panic from a window onto an adjacent building, while another man grabbed a rope, but fell to the ground. A woman saved the life of her three-year-old son by tossing him from a window to a man standing in the lane. The hotel is frequented by the pilgrims visiting the 13th century dargah of Sufi mystic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani, elected from Ajmer North constituency, has given instructions to the district administration to ensure proper treatment of those injured and launch an investigation into the mishap. Governor Haribhau Bagde and Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed condolences over the loss of lives and wished for a speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.
