–Pakistan to open Kartar Singh border for Sikh pilgrims who wish to visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without having to obtain visa
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Friday that the government and military are willing to hold talks with India to establish peace in the region.
Talking to BBC Urdu, the information minister said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is eager to hold talks with India, however, the Indian government is yet to give a positive response: “Imran Khan has given many hints to New Delhi in this regard.”
Fawad also revealed that Pakistan will soon open the Kartar Singh border for Sikh pilgrims who wish to visit the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur without having to obtain a visa. “A system has been formed for the pilgrims entering Pakistan,” Chaudhry added.
“As soon as he was elected prime minister, Imran invited Indian cricketers,” he stated. “In his first speech, the prime minister said that we will take two steps forward in response to one step from New Delhi,” Chaudhry said.
The info minister added that difference between the former and current government lay in its approach.”All of our institutions are on the same page. Like Nawaz Sharif, our current foreign policy is the country’s diplomatic stance and not that of Imran Khan,” he said.
He added that the military supported PTI government’s stance to establish an affirmative relationship with India.
“Both Imran Khan and General Qamar Javed Bajwa understand that a country cannot progress in isolation,” he said. “Both leaders understand that we will be left behind in the race of development if regional peace is not ensured.”
Speaking on the recent visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, he added: “The prime minister himself said that the environment of meetings was the opposite of what was expected.”
However, he revealed that talks with the US delegate were frank and open. He also remarked that there was not as much of a difference between the stance of the US and Pakistan as it was perceived before the meetings were held.
“Imran Khan understands Afghanistan and Pashtun culture much better than other premiers,” he said. “The prime minister’s popularity can prove beneficial to solve the Afghan issue.”
The info minister added that Prime Minister Imran Khan believes that a political, not a military solution is needed to resolve the Afghan issue. “The US has also developed a similar viewpoint which will play a positive part in the matter,” said Chaudhry.