Pak delegation leaves for India to discuss Kartarpur Corridor

LAHORE, Mar 14 (APP):An 18-member Pakistani delegation led by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal left for India via Wahga Border here on Thursday to attend thebilateral meeting on Kartarpur Corridor.
High officials of Ministry of Religious Affairs,Ministry of Communication,National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK),besides Ministry of Foreign Affairs were in the delegation.
Talking to media before leaving Pakistan,the spokesperson said that Pakistan was taking solid steps for peace in the region and Kartarpur Corridor talks was one of the examples.
“Continuing with our spirit of constructive engagement and flexibility and in line with our sincere efforts to de-escalate the situation for regional peace and stability,we decided to agree to India’s proposal and that is why we are here today to crossover to the Indian side for what is the first of a series of meetings,” he explained.
He was hopeful that the initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan would facilitate Sikh community especially those from India, and in the current vitiated situation it could be a step forward in the right direction–from conflict to cooperation, animosity to peace and enmity to friendship.
He said that Pakistan decided to open the Kartarpur Corridor for the 550th Birth Anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in 2019.
Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated ground-breaking of the corridor,on the Pakistan side,on November 28, 2018.
He said that on January 21, Pakistan shared its draft agreement with India and proposed that Pakistan delegation may visit India on March 14 followed by return visit of Indian delegation to Pakistan.
” On March 6,India proposed that Pakistan delegation may visit Attari on March 14,” he added. He said that agenda of the meeting was to open Kartarpur Corridor which was being constructed on 4.4 kms at Kartarpur,near Narowal.
“Conditions will be finalised for visitors from India in the meeting,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Gurdwara Darbar Sahab is situated on Pakistan territory whereas Gurdwara Dera Baba Nanak exists in India.
Thousands of Sikhs visit these sites every year and opening of the corridor,a longstanding request of Sikhs, will allow access to them to their most revered place of worship.