India, Pakistan resume talks on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor
Wagah (Pakistan) Jul 14 (UNI) India and Pakistan on Sunday resumed the talks on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor here after an Indian delegation arrived.
The meeting will discuss various facets of issues involved and works in progress in both sides of the border towards expeditiously operationalising the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.
Indian officials are expected to raise a number of issues including its concerns about the general security and safety of the Indian pilgrims, presence of pro-Khalistani elements in Pakistan's official panel on the Corridor, infrastructure and logistics issue.
"We are confident from our side....the works are going on in full swing and the work has been planned to be completed by October 31 before the commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Devji in November 2019," a source said in Delhi on Friday.
Kartarpur is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi and is about four km from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district.
Last year, both India and Pakistan agreed to set up the border-crossing linking Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak, to Dera Baba Nanak.
On November 26, 2018, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone for the Kartarpur corridor in Gurdaspur district.
Two days later, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone for the corridor in Narowal, around 125 km from Lahore.
The first round of talks was held at the Indian side of the border at Atari on March 14. But April 2 parleys to be held at Wagah border was 'postponed' by India when it wanted to register protest against the inclusion of a pro-Khalistani leader Gopal Singh Chawla in the official Pakistan panel on the corridor.
Giving in to India's demand, on Friday, Pakistan removed Chawla from the panel.
However, some part of the controversy is apparently far from over as Ameer Singh, one member from Punjab region of Pakistan, is also known as a Khalistan supporter. Ameer Singh is also the brother of 'known' Khalistani leader Bishen Singh, the sources said.
There are some issues on logistics and infrastructures as well especially about constructing a bridge.
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