Kartarpur Corridor: Pakistan, India hold talks to discuss project’s plan
LAHORE: Pakistan and India delegations held talks at the designated zero point to discuss the project plan of Kartarpur Corridor.
As per media reports, technical experts and foreign policy officials from both countries took part in the meeting and discussed the road plan and a border fence.
The official sources stated that the talks held at Kartarpur zero point decided by both sides.
Earlier on March 29, India decided to postpone the April 2 meeting on the Kartarpur Corridor a day after receiving Islamabad’s reply on the Pulwama dossier. Responding to the development, Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) issued a statement, regretting that a meeting to “discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues” has been delayed.
FO spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal tweeted, “Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019.”
According to a statement issued by Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India has “shared concerns and sought clarifications on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur Corridor”. However, Indian MEA did not elaborate on what ‘controversial elements’ it was referring to.
New Delhi said that the meeting will be scheduled after Pakistan responds to its concerns. “Meanwhile, in order to take forward the infrastructure development for the corridor in an expeditious manner, India has proposed to hold another meeting of technical experts in mid-April to resolve outstanding issues at the zero point agreed to at the last meeting,” Indian MEA stated.
India said that it “remains committed to realising the long-pending demand of the Indian pilgrims to visit the holy Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor in a safe, secure, smooth and easy manner”.
Earlier in the day, FO had invited the Indian media to apply for visas to cover the April 2 meeting at Wagha.
“Pakistan welcomes Indian media for the Kartarpur Corridor meeting at Wagah on April 2, 2019. They may apply to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for visas #PakKartarpurSpirit,” tweeted Dr Faisal.
