Kartarpur Sikh Shrine

Pak Not Sincere On Kartarpur: Badal

SAD patriarch and former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday said that Pakistan is not sincere on the issue of Kartarpur corridor and hence is creating ‘roadblocks’ in its way.

“To build Kartarpur corridor is a very big decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but Pakistan is not sincere. But I am of the view that these roadblocks would be removed and Kartarpur corridor will materalise,” said Badal.

It is learnt that India is upset by the constitution of a 10-member committee by Pakistan government to oversee Kartarpur corridor as it includes some controversial names like that of Gopal Singh Chawla, Maninder Singh, Tara Singh, Bisan Singh, and Kuljeet Singh.

They are involved in secessionist and anti-India activities. Gopal is linked with Lashkar-e-Toiba and this has queered the pitch for Kartarpur dialogue.

India has sought certain clarifications from Pakistan on the key proposals put forth by it at the last meeting held in Attari to discuss modalities for Kartarpur Sahib corridor. (ANI)

Kartarpur Diplomacy Stays On Track

India and Pakistan on Thursday agreed to work “expeditiously” to operationalise Kartarpur Sahib Corridor and decided to hold a meeting of the technical experts on March 19, which will be followed by another round of talks on the issue on April 2.

“The first meeting to discuss the modalities and the draft Agreement for facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the Kartarpur Corridor was held today at Attari, India in a cordial environment. Both sides held detailed and constructive discussions on various aspects and provisions of the proposed agreement and agreed to work towards expeditiously operationalizing the Kartapur Sahib Corridor,” read the statement.   

“It was agreed to hold the next meeting at Wagah on 2 April 2019. This will be preceded by a meeting of the technical experts on 19 March 2019 at the proposed zero points to finalize the alignment,” further read a statement.  

An eighteen-member Pakistani delegation arrived in India on Thursday. The Indian delegation was led by S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Pakistan delegation was led by Mohammad Faisal, DG (SA and SAARC) of Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affair 

Meanwhile, The Indian delegation is scheduled to visit Islamabad on March 28, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Kartarpur Corridor is a long pending demand of Indian devotees which have been a matter of discussion since 1999 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Lahore. It also figured in discussions in composite dialogue, where Pakistan was asked to make Kartarpur part of 1974 protocol as one of the holy shrines in 2005, sources said.

(ANI)