ISLAMABAD: Talks between technical experts of Pakistan and India on Kartarpur Corridor were held at zero point (crossing point) between Kartarpur and Dera Baba Nanak on Monday.
As per details, experts of both nations discussed surface of the corridor and steps for constructing drainage to curb the flowing water of floods.
Pakistan’s team of experts comprised officials of National Highways Authority (NHA), Interior Ministry and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), whereas the Indian team consisted of officials of Border Security Force, Interior Ministry and other departments.
According to officials, work for a proposed bridge on River Ravi in Pakistan is almost complete while basic structure of the road is near completion.
Earlier, technical teams from Pakistan and India met on April 16. The meeting saw the two countries presenting each other with some reservations over their recommendations.
Delegations of Pakistani and Indian technical experts also met on March 19 at the proposed zero points to discuss and finalise the development of the Kartarpur Corridor. It was decided after this meeting that both sides will present surveys and maps for border fencing and developmental work on the Dera Baba Nanak-Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to their respective governments.
Officials from both the countries held a meeting on March 14 this year at Attari border in India while a meeting scheduled to be held within Pakistani limits on April 2 was abruptly cancelled by New Delhi.
Pakistan has said that the work on Kartarpur Corridor will be completed before the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November this year.
The Kartarpur Corridor is expected to provide visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to the Gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib — a small town in Narowal, four kilometres from the Pakistan-India border, where Sikhism founder Baba Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.
The groundbreaking of the project on the Pakistani side was performed by Prime Minister Imran Khan at Kartarpur Sahib on November 28, 2018.
In January, Pakistan had shared its draft of Kartarpur Corridor Accord with India and invited its delegation for a visit to negotiate the document.
India, however, instead of accepting the proposal on that occasion, insisted on hosting the meeting and asked Pakistani officials to visit Delhi either on February 26 or March 7.
Although the counter-proposals from Islamabad and Delhi had given the impression of a sort of standoff on the issue, Islamabad had, instead of reacting negatively to the position taken by India in response to its original suggestion, vowed to “take the process forward”.
