If it was not for a last minute change of plan by Radcliffe, the entire Gurdaspur would have been a part of Pakistan when the line was drawn on land and on hearts of millions of Punjabis.
Eventually, only the Shakargarh tehsil – which was on the other side of River Ravi, was awarded to the new country.
This despite Muslims – when including Ahmadiyya sect – being in majority in the district in 1947.
Later during militancy in the state, Gurdaspur was one of the worst affected districts in the state.
Gurdaspur borders Pakistan on its western front, thereby making it one of the most sensitive districts in Punjab.
The northern most district of the state, Gurdaspur., is the gateway to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and hence makes it vulnerable to any spill over terror activity from across the border.
The Pathankot-Jammu highway runs almost parallel to the international border, hence making it relatively easy for launching of attacks from across the border in Pakistan.
