Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh has declined Pakistan’s invitation to attend the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, citing escalation in cross-border firing and terrorism.

His minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, credited with making the breakthrough move on the Sikh community’s long-pending demand for the corridor by broaching the issue directly with the Pakistan Army chief whom he met at the swearing-in of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has accepted the invitation subject to clearance from the Centre.

All ministers from states and the Centre need clearance from the external affairs ministry for official trips abroad.

Amarinder said in his response on Sunday that while it has been a cherished desire to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, built at the final resting place of Guru Nanak, he was opting out because of cross-border attacks and terror strikes. He cited several attacks, including that on a religious congregation in Amritsar last Sunday.

On Saturday, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had written to her Pakistan counterpart, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, that she would not be able to attend because of prior commitments but that two colleagues — Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri — would represent India.

Qureshi had invited Sushma, Amarinder and Sidhu on behalf of Khan on Saturday.