Home »Business and Economy » Pakistan » Kartarpur corridor talks: positive developments seen: FO spokesman
Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal has said that Pakistan and India resolved and agreed over 80 percent modalities regarding Kartarpur Corridor. While talking to media after having second round of talks with Indian delegation here on Sunday at Wagah Boarder, Director General South Asia Dr Faisal said: "In my opinion, around 80 per cent and beyond has been agreed upon." 20 percent reservation would be solved in the next meeting between the two countries he added.

Dr Faisal led the Pakistani side while an eight-member Indian delegation was led by S.L. Das. FO spokesperson said that he could not share details until a final agreement was reached. Dr Faisal added that another round of talks would be held to address the approximately 20 per cent unresolved factors. Dr Faisal said that under the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan is "fully committed to materializing" the Kartarpur Corridor into a reality for the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak in November this year.

The FO spokesperson said that 70 per cent of the gurdwara complex, terminal building and road had been completed. Dr Faisal said that he hoped talks between the two sides were positive and productive. Indian side has asked Pakistan to permit 5,000 pilgrims to visit Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor daily and that an additional 10,000 pilgrims be allowed to visit on special occasions, additionally, they requested that Persons of Indian Origin with Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards be permitted to use the Kartarpur Corridor facility details of a bridge that they were building and "urged" Pakistan to build a bridge on their side.

During the meeting details of bridge that India is building on its side were shared and Pakistan was urged to build a bridge on their side. This would address flooding related concerns & ensure smooth pilgrimage. Pakistan agreed, in principle, to build bridge at earliest.

Pending construction of bridge over old Ravi creek by Pakistan on their territory, India offered to make interim arrangements for making corridor of Guru Nanak Dev.

APP adds: Foreign Office Spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal said on Sunday that positive development had been seen on the second round of talks between Pakistan and India about the opening of Kartarpur corridor.

Briefing the media here at Wagah border, he said that consensus had been developed on 80 per cent issues regarding Kartarpur Corridor, whereas, 20 per cent issues would be resolved in future talks. To a question, Dr Faisal said that specific details could not be shared before the agreement with the public according to the international norms.

Earlier, before resumption of talks, the spokesman said that Pakistan was committed for materializing Kartarpur Corridor into reality before the 550th birth anniversary of Sikh founder Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji under the Prime Minister's direction and promise.

Eight-member Indian delegation led by Subhash Chandar Lal Das (SCL Das), Joint Secretary Indian Home Affairs came to Pakistan whereas Joint Secretary Indian Home Affairs Rajiv Singh Thakur, Joint Secretary Indian External Affairs Dr Deepak Mittal, Joint Secretary Cabinet Parag Jain, Avi Prakash, Hussan Lal (Punjab Government, India) and Maneesh Rastogi were among the Indian delegation.

Later, the Foreign Office Spokesman and other members of the Pakistani delegation planted a Neem tree named as (Kartarpur Peace tree) at Wagah. It is pertinent to mention here that the first round of talks between Pakistan and India on Kartarpur Corridor was held on March 14 at Attari, India, in which an 18-member Pakistani delegation led by Dr Muhammad Faisal represented Pakistan.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2019


Copyright Business Recorder, 2019


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