India’s decision to not issue visas to Pakistani journalists for Kartarpur meet regrettable: FO

Pakistan issued visas to more than 30 Indian journalists, says FO

The Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday regretted the decision by Indian authorities to not issue visas to Pakistani journalists for the upcoming Kartarpur huddle between the two neighbouring countries.

The meeting between Pakistani and Indian officials is scheduled for March 14 to discuss details of the Kartarpur corridor.

However, FO Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal hoped that the meeting will be fruitful for the people of both the countries.

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

Dr Faisal explains further in his tweet.

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

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, on March 13, had announced that Pakistan would send an official delegation to India to discuss the agreement on the operationalisation of the Pak-India project.

In November 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid the foundation stone of four kilometres-long Kartarpur Corridor in district Narowal.



The project connects two Sikh holy sites — Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan and Dera Baba Nanak in India.

An Indian delegation comprising Indian Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Housing Hardeep S Puri and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu also witnessed the ceremony.

A number of Indian journalists along with a large number of Sikh pilgrims were also for the event.

Pakistan’s friendly gesture was meant to facilitate the Indian Sikh community to visit the sacred place where Baba Guru Nanak, their spiritual leader, lived for 18 years until his death in 1539.