Pakistan on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor in November this year on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and urged India to show flexibility on the matter.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, who led the Pakistan delegation at the third round of talks with India at Attari on Wednesday, said that both the sides exchanged dossiers on the corridor expansion.
The meeting took place on the Indian side of the Wagah-Attari border to deliberate on the rules and regulations, the number of Sikh pilgrims to be allowed on a daily basis, the procedure of entry, building the causeway, visa fees and other points.
In a post-meeting press briefing at the Wagah border, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan had taken unprecedented steps to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims. He urged India to show flexibility and leave political rhetoric aside.
“India needs to show some flexibility as we have taken an unprecedented initiative to reflect our commitment to the minorities,” he said, adding that another round of delegation-level talks would be held to finalise the agreement.
During the talks, the two sides agreed on visa-free travel by Indian pilgrims – in groups and as individuals. The corridor will be open all year round for 5,000 pilgrims every day, Dr Faisal said, adding that the pilgrims will be provided Langar and Prasad.
“We have agreed on at least 5,000 pilgrims from India but we are open to more. There will be local pilgrims as well as international. We will allow entry to as many as we can under the capacity,” Dr Faisal told reporters.
According to Dr Faisal, the environment of the meeting remained good despite tension over Kashmir. He said both sides also decided to build a bridge on Budhi Ravi channel, open a direct line of communication between India’s Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistan’s Rangers.
Pakistan had completed more than 90% of the work on Kartarpur Corridor, he said. Responding to a question about the work done by the Indian side, Dr Faisal said the Indian government was responsible for what they do.
The Kartarpur Corridor is expected to open on November 11. Dr Faisal reiterated that Pakistan was committed to open the corridor by November this year on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
Pakistan has kept the corridor project insulated from the recent tensions with India over the annulment of Article 370, subsequent repressive actions in occupied Kashmir and intensified ceasefire violations on the Line of Control.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, who led the Pakistan delegation at the third round of talks with India at Attari on Wednesday, said that both the sides exchanged dossiers on the corridor expansion.
In a post-meeting press briefing at the Wagah border, Dr Faisal said that Pakistan had taken unprecedented steps to facilitate the Sikh pilgrims. He urged India to show flexibility and leave political rhetoric aside.
During the talks, the two sides agreed on visa-free travel by Indian pilgrims – in groups and as individuals. The corridor will be open all year round for 5,000 pilgrims every day, Dr Faisal said, adding that the pilgrims will be provided Langar and Prasad.
“We have agreed on at least 5,000 pilgrims from India but we are open to more. There will be local pilgrims as well as international. We will allow entry to as many as we can under the capacity,” Dr Faisal told reporters.
According to Dr Faisal, the environment of the meeting remained good despite tension over Kashmir. He said both sides also decided to build a bridge on Budhi Ravi channel, open a direct line of communication between India’s Border Security Forces (BSF) and Pakistan’s Rangers.
Pakistan had completed more than 90% of the work on Kartarpur Corridor, he said. Responding to a question about the work done by the Indian side, Dr Faisal said the Indian government was responsible for what they do.
The Kartarpur Corridor is expected to open on November 11. Dr Faisal reiterated that Pakistan was committed to open the corridor by November this year on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak.
Pakistan has kept the corridor project insulated from the recent tensions with India over the annulment of Article 370, subsequent repressive actions in occupied Kashmir and intensified ceasefire violations on the Line of Control.
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Diplomacy