Kartarpur talks on March 14: India refuses visa to Pakistani journalists
This will be their first meeting on March 14 at foreign-ministerial level between Pakistan and India
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Pakistan on Wednesday regretted that India has not issued visas to Pakistani journalists to cover the round of talks between Indian and Pakistani delegations on Kartarpur Corridor at Attari near Amritsar, Dunya News reported.
This will be their first meeting on March 14 at foreign-ministerial level to finalize the modalities and discuss the draft agreement of the Kartarpur corridor to enable Indian pilgrims to pray at the historic Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan.
More than 30 Indian journalists covered the kartarpur ground breaking ceremony in Pakistan last year. They also met PM & were hosted by FM for a dinner during their stay #PakKartarpurSpirit (1/2)
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) March 13, 2019
Regrettable that #India has not given visas to #Pakistani journalists for the #kartarpur meeting tomorrow. Hope the #PakKartarpurSpirit & meeting tomorrow will bring a change for the better for people of both countries (2/2)
— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@DrMFaisal) March 13, 2019
“Hope the #PakKartarpurSpirit & meeting tomorrow will bring a change for the better for people of both Countries,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said on twitter on Wednesday.
Dr Faisal reminded that more than 30 Indian journalists covered the Kartarpur ground breaking ceremony in Pakistan last year. They also met Prime Minister Imran Khan and were hosted by the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi for a dinner during their stay in Pakistan.
For Kartarpur Corridor talks, a Pakistani delegation led by Dr Mohammad Faisal will cross Wagah border to hold consultations with India on Thursday morning. Later, an Indian delegation will also arrive in Pakistan on March 28 for further deliberations.
Prior to its departure for India, the Pakistani delegation will also hold a press briefing at Wagah border at 8:30am on Thursday.
New Delhi and Islamabad had last week confirmed that talks are on schedule despite the India Pakistan tensions.
However, in its recent wave of aggression, India refuted to accept it as a resumption of dialogue between two South Asian neighbours.
The talks were initially scheduled to be held in New Delhi but later the venue was changed by New Delhi to repel a notion that the talks were resumption of talks.
In November 2018, Pakistan offered India the building of the corridor for Sikh pilgrims for visiting the Gurudwara at Kartarpur where the founder of Sikhism – Guru Nanak lived for 18 years. The 2019 year marks the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.
Later, the building of a passenger terminal building (PTB complex) at the cost of Rs190 crores was approved, which will be able to handle immigration and customs clearance facilities for5000 pilgrims every day.
The corridor can pave a way for "facilitating and fortifying" people-to-people bonds of the 2 countries.
Earlier in a historical event on November 28, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of Kartarpur Corridor which was also attended by Indian ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri on the invitation of the Pakistan government.
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other government officials.
On March 7, PM Imran Khan had directed the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) to ensure timely completion of the project on Pakistani side of the border.
