Gates of India-Pakistan Border in Rajasthan Opens after Decades

Why did Islamabad and Delhi permit to open the India-Pakistan Border in Rajasthan? Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and continuous ceasefire violations at the India-Pakistan border, the Munabao border between the two hostile nations was opened after 12 long years. The Khokrapar-Munabao border between the two nations was opened in a rare incident to take the corpse of a Muslim woman to India.

As reported by Pakistan Tribune, The Indian national had gone to Pakistan to meet her grandchildren but she died in Pakistan. The woman had gone to Pakistan on June 30 and was scheduled to return on July 28. However, she fell severely ill during her stay in Pakistan and eventually died on July 25. The family wanted that Reshma’s dead body be buried in her native town in Rajasthan and not in Pakistan.

The Pakistan Rangers handed over Reshma’s mortal remains to the Indian BSF after which the border gates were closed again. Before this, the Khokrapar-Munabao border was last opened in 2006 when some Hindu pilgrims wanted to travel to Balochistan. Even before 2006, the gates of the border remained closed since the 1965 war between India and Pakistan.

Unlike the Wagah border where citizens can cross the zero line on foot to get into either of the sides, no one is allowed to walk to the zero line at the Munabao border. The Munabao border is located in the Barmer district of Rajasthan, India.

India and Pakistan stand on two sides of a blurred line of diplomatic relations over several issues including Kashmir. Now with a new government regime emerging in Pakistan under Imran Khan, the future course of the India-Pakistan relations remains to be seen.

Imran Khan has shown intent to ease out tensions with India but how much of this intent he actually follows is subject to scrutiny after he takes oath as the Prime Minister. His party, PTI emerged as the single largest party in the general elections held in Pakistan on July 25.

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