Pakistan and India on Thursday agreed to hold a second round of discussion to finalise the modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor on April 2 following today's constructive meeting in a cordial environment
LAHORE (Pakistan Point News / NNI - 14th March, 2019) Pakistan and India on Thursday agreed to hold a second round of discussion to finalise the modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor on April 2 following today's constructive meeting in a cordial environment.'Speaking to reporters at the Wagah border, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal, said that technical experts from both the countries will meet next Tuesday. Technical team and experts are scheduled to discuss issues relating to the corridor, its construction, road, and other technicalities.
Dr Faisal, Director General South Asia and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), led 18-member Pakistani delegation via Wagha Border to hold talks for drafting an agreement on Kartarpur Corridor at Attari near Amritsar.He praised the Indian delegation by stating that they [India] were welcoming and the environment was conducive.The meeting was held on the draft agreement of Kartarpur corridor connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Narowal district with Dera Baba Nanak in India's Gurdaspur.
The April 2 meeting will be technical in nature and holds great importance, he further said. "There were differences on certain aspects, the details of which cannot be revealed at the moment," he went on to say.A statement by FO read, "The first meeting to discuss the modalities and the draft Agreement for facilitation of pilgrims to visit Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the Kartarpur Corridor was held today at Attari, India in a cordial environment.
The Indian delegation was led by Mr. S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Pakistan delegation was led by Dr. Mohammad Faisal, DG (SA & SAARC) of Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Both sides held detailed and constructive discussions on various aspects and provisions of the proposed agreement and agreed to work towards expeditiously operationalizing the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor.Both sides also held expert level discussions between the technical experts on the alignment and other details of the proposed corridor.
It was agreed to hold the next meeting at Wagah on 2 April 2019. This will be preceded by a meeting of technical experts on 19 March 2019 at the proposed zero points to finalize the alignment."A joint declaration has been issued regarding Pakistan and India talks over Kartarpur Corridor, stating that both the sides have agreed to work expeditiously to complete operationalisation of the corridor.The much-awaited corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur - the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev - with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib. NNI
