Pakistan regrets as India postpones Kartarpur Corridor meeting

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has regretted decision of last-minute postponement of the upcoming meeting on Kartarpur Corridor by the Indian government which was scheduled on April 2 at Wagah, ARY News reported on Friday.

Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said in a tweet that Pakistan and India had jointly agreed to hold next round of talks during March 14’s meeting. He added that the meeting was focussed to discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues.

#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.
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— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019

The spokesperson said that Pakistan regretted the Indian decision and termed it as ‘incomprehensible.

He said the ‘last minute postponement without seeking views from Pakistan after a productive technical meeting on March 19.

Last minute Postponement without seeking views from #Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on 19 March is incomprehensible.

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— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019

Diplomatic sources said that New Delhi has asked Islamabad to clarify over recommendation made by India besides raising objections over the formation of a committee for facilitating Sikh pilgrims at Kartarpur Corridor.

India demanded to organise another meeting of experts before formal commencement of Kartarpur talks, sources said.

Indian authorities said that new dates for next round of talks would be announced after receiving a reply from Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Office (FO) spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal confirmed that Pakistan and India will hold another meeting on opening Kartarpur Corridor on April 2.

The next round of talks was scheduled to be held in Pakistan’s Wagah.

Dr Mohammad Faisal, in his Twitter message, invited Indian media to Pakistan for coverage of the meeting between Islamabad and New Delhi for Kartarpur Corridor. He added that the Indian journalists could apply to Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi to get their visas.

Earlier on March 19, a three-hour long meeting of technical experts from Pakistan and India held to finalize the Kartarpur Corridor alignment at Zero point.

During the meeting, the technical experts indicated areas related to the corridor and both sides agreed for border fencing around the Kartarpur corridor, sources said.

“Representatives from both sides will present survey reports of today’s meeting to their respective sides”, the sources said. Both the sides had agreed to meet again on April 2 at Wagah.

Kartarpur crossing

In November last year, Prime Minister Imran had laid the foundation stone for the corridor. Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, Indian Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Indian Minister for Housing Hardeep S Puri had attended the groundbreaking ceremony.

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province holds religious significance for the Sikh community. It is where Baba Guru Nanak settled down after his travels as a missionary. He lived there for 18 years until his death in 1539.