–India says meeting to be scheduled after Pakistan responds to its concerns over involvement of ‘controversial elements’
–FO condemns ‘last-minute postponement’ without consultation, dubs it ‘incomprehensible’
ISLAMABAD: As India decided to postpone the forthcoming meeting on the Kartarpur Corridor a day after receiving Islamabad’s reply on the Pulwama dossier, 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 on Friday, “Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019.”
#Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming #Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019. The meeting was to discuss & find consensus on outstanding issues.
(1/2)— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019
He also condemned India’s “last minute postponement” without taking Pakistan into confidence “especially after the productive technical meeting on March 19” and dubbed it “incomprehensible”
Last minute Postponement without seeking views from #Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on 19 March is incomprehensible.
(2/2)
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 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.
#Pakistan welcomes Indian media for the #KartarpurCorridor meeting at Wagah on 2 April 2019. They may apply to Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi for visas #PakKartarpurSpirit
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019
On Wednesday, the federal cabinet constituted a ten-member Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) to facilitate Sikh pilgrims after the opening of Kartarpur Corridor.
During the last meeting at Attari, both sides had agreed to hold the next meeting at Wagah on April 2, 2019, which was to be preceded by a meeting of technical experts on March 19, at the proposed zero-point to finalise the alignment of the corridor.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor in Pakistan was performed last year on November 28.
In January, Pakistan had shared its draft of Kartarpur Corridor Accord with India and invited its delegation for a visit for negotiating the document, which would govern operations of the corridor meant to provide visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to the Gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib (Narowal district).
The corridor is planned to be opened for Sikh pilgrims this year in commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
Pakistan and India are going through a rough patch in their relationship after 44 Indian troops were killed in suicide bombing in Pulwama district of held-Kashmir.
Following the bombing, India launched airstrike inside Pakistani territory followed by Pakistani airstrike in occupied Kashmir, shooting down an Indian jet and capturing the pilot. Pakistan’s decision to release the pilot and international pressure eventually led to de-escalation.
