Indian envoy urges trust building before political dialogue

High Commissioner Bisaria says Delhi has yet to agree to Kartarpur corridor zero-point

ISLAMABAD: Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria on Saturday said operational contacts between the two countries were going on and that Delhi had appointed a focal person for the Kartarpur corridor.

Talking informally to reporters at an event he hosted on the occasion of India’s Republic Day, the high commissioner said that the Indian government had consented to the basic points about Kartarpur corridor except for its zero-point.

“Because of [upcoming] elections in India, the bilateral political contacts might be difficult for now,” he said, adding that; however, building trust was essential before any political dialogue between the two countries.

He said both the countries were in contact over Kartarpur corridor. “So many meetings have taken place on this matter [Kartarpur corridor],” Bisaria told the reporters. A delegation from Pakistani water commission will visit India tomorrow (Sunday),” he added.

The republic day event was attended by political leaders, parliamentarians, Islamabad-based diplomats and civil society representatives. Addressing the gathering, he thanked the guests.
Bisaria said that 2019 marked the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion, and the 150th birth anniversary of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. On the occasion, a short film about Gandhi was also screened.

The ambassador said that Pakistan and India both started their journeys as independent states together. And this year Baba Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary would celebrated in both the countries.