NEW DELHI, India, July 1 (NNN-PTI) – India has proposed a meeting with Pakistan, in the second week of July, to finalise modalities and infrastructure requirements, to open the Kartarpur corridor.
“India proposed July 11-14 to Pakistan, to hold a fresh round of talks on the Kartarpur corridor.”
The first meeting to finalise the modalities for the corridor took place on the Indian side of the Attari-Wagah border, on March 14.
Officials said, technical experts of the two countries met on March 19, during which alignment, coordinates and several other engineering aspects of the proposed corridor were discussed.
However, on March 29, New Delhi conveyed its strong concerns to Islamabad, over the presence of some members in a committee appointed by Pakistan, on the project. It sought clarifications from Islamabad over certain other issues related to the project.
India had also postponed a previously-agreed meeting on the project, which was to be held on April 2, on the Pakistani side.
Last year, Indian Vice President, Venkaiah Naidu, and Punjab Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh, laid the foundation stone of the Kartarpur corridor in Gurdaspur. Later, Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, laid the foundation stone of the corridor on his side. The corridor will provide a passage to Sikh pilgrims to visit the holy site. Pilgrims will be able to visit the holy shrine throughout the year.
Opening of the corridor and having smooth access to the Sikh shrine in Pakistan, is a long-pending public demand of Sikhs from the Indian side.– NNN-PTI
