Pakistan committed to opening Kartarpur Corridor in Nov: FO

India not willing to compromise on Kashmir issue: FO


​ Our Correspondent August 22, 2019
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:



Pakistan is sticking with its plan to open the first visa-free border crossing with India to facilitate Sikh pilgrims despite brewing tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours over the longstanding Kashmir dispute.




At a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said the meeting on Kartarpur Corridor would take place soon.

He said Pakistan was committed to open the corridor in November on the 550th birth of Baba Gurunanak.

Prime Minister Imran Khan opened the work on the corridor last year as part of Pakistan’s initiative to allow Sikh pilgrims from across India to visit the shrine of Gurunanak.

The Shrine is located only a few kilometres from the border. The proposed corridor will allow Sikhs to visit the Shrine without a visa.

The recent tensions triggered by the Indian decision to revoke the special status of Kashmir have raised questions about whether the corridor would be opened as planned.

Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and suspended bilateral trade with India, is still looking to stick with the plan. It is however not clear if Indian side would be willing to remain committed to the project, which many thought could help bridge differences between the two countries.

To a question, the spokesperson said India had not yet renewed the World Bank brokered Indus Water Treaty.

About reports of stranded Indians after the severing of rail and bus links with India, Faisal said he had no knowledge of any Indian citizens who were in Pakistan.

"But if there were, we are ready to facilitate them. They can go back on foot through Wagha border because the border crossing is open," he clarified.

He also informed reporters about the steps taken by Pakistan to highlight the grave human rights situation in Kashmir. He said the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister had been reaching out to world capitals to brief them about the negative fallout of Indian move to abrogate the special status.

To another question, the spokesperson made it clear that Daesh had no organized presence in Pakistan.

India not willing to compromise 

In reference to India's illegal Kashmir move, the FO said New Delhi is not willing to compromise on the Kashmir issue.

The spokesperson added that Pakistan has consistently been playing an active role in exposing Indian aggression on international forums, but India is not willing to compromise, making the two nations reach a standstill.

"We are at a standstill because India is not willing to put an end to the curfew or the brutalities."

He said the world has been sensitised over the situation in Kashmir, further adding that Pakistan has approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for the human rights abuse in IoK.

"Pakistan has always maintained a healthy relationship with the international community, and the international community is taking notice of all that is happening in IoK," said Dr Faisal, adding that US President Trump's calls to Islamabad and New Delhi shed light on how the international community is concerned about Kashmiris.

"We have offers of mediation from many countries, including the US. But India is not willing to meet us halfway."

Dr Faisal reiterated how condemnable India's actions are but said that India cannot enforce a curfew in Kashmir forever.

"Till when will India continue this? They cannot do this forever, this [curfew] has to end one day," said Dr Faisal.

Earlier this month, the FO spokesperson requested the international community to take notice of the gross abuse being carried out in the occupied valley.





Faisal had said all quarters were on the same page regarding occupied Kashmir and the joint parliament session had also endorsed it.


 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ