India postpones meeting on Kartarpur Corridor

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has ‘regretted’ India’s “incomprehensible” decision to postpone the April 2 meeting of technical experts at Wagah on the Kartarpur Corridor saying that this was surprising since both sides had agreed to meet early next month.

The Foreign Office says that the Indian postponement of the meeting without prior consultations is unfortunate and could stymie the progress made and acknowledged by both sides in the joint statement of March 14, 2019.

This was the first joint statement between the two countries after a gap of several years. “Pakistan on its part continues to be committed to uphold its promise to operationalise the corridor for the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak in November 2019”, assured the Foreign Office.

Unlike New Delhi which did not issue visas for the Pakistan media, on Friday Islamabad showed confidence and large heartedness when it announced that it would welcome the Indian media for the Kartarpur Corridor meeting at Wagah and they may apply to Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi, for visas keeping in mind the “Pak Kartarpur spirit”.

According to India, it has sought postponement to seek clarification on Indian proposals on the modalities of the corridor and its concerns about ‘appointments to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur Corridor’.

“The scheduled meeting was being held to discuss areas of divergence with a view to aligning positions and reaching consensus for expedited operationalisation of the corridor for the upcoming anniversary of Guru Nanak in November this year. Postponing the meeting only endangers Pakistan’s Kartarpur initiative”, said the Foreign Office.

India while postponing the Wagah meeting had earlier summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner in New Delhi to the Ministry of External Affairs, saying it had concerns about appointment of ‘controversial’ people like Gopal Chawla, allegedly associated with LeT, and Bishen Singh, who were included in the 10-member committee on Kartarpur Gurdwara by the Pakistan government. “This 10-member, purely religious committee referred to by India (Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC)), is not specific to Kartarpur Sahib but is responsible for upkeep of all Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan. It is not a new mechanism but was constituted under Section 3 of the Scheme for Renovation, Maintenance and Preservation of Sikh Holy Shrines in 2004 and is reconstituted after every 3 years,” responded the Foreign Office in a statement.

However, India says that though it has asked for a postponement of the meeting till mid-April, the infrastructure development for the corridor should go forward and "in an expeditious manner."

“The meeting was to discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues. This last minute postponement without seeking views from Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on March 14 (at Attari) is incomprehensible”, says the Foreign Office.

Earlier Prime Minister Imran Khan in a cabinet meeting had constituted a ten-member Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) to facilitate Sikh pilgrims after opening of Kartarpur Corridor.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, says it has sought clarifications from Pakistan on key proposals that it had put forward, at the last meeting (on March 14) to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.

It holds out an assurance that it remains committed to realise the long pending demand of the Indian pilgrims to visit the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor in a safe, secure, smooth and easy manner.

“India has also 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,” the ministry added.

“It has been conveyed that the next meeting on the modalities can be scheduled at an appropriate time after receiving Pakistan’s response”, says the Indian statement. “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 points agreed to at the last meeting,” said the (MEA).