— FO condemns ‘last-minute postponement’ without consultation
ISLAMABAD: As India decided to postpone the forthcoming meeting on Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan’s Foreign Office issued a statement regretting that a meeting to “discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues” has been delayed.
Dr Mohammad Faisal, the FO spokesperson, tweeted on Friday: “Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019.”
#Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming #Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019. The meeting was to discuss & find consensus on outstanding issues.
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— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019
The FO spokesperson condemned India’s “last-minute postponement” without taking Pakistan into confidence “especially after the productive technical meeting on March 19” and dubbed it “incomprehensible”.
Last minute Postponement without seeking views from #Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on 19 March is incomprehensible.
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— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) March 29, 2019
During the last meeting at Attari, both sides had agreed to hold the next meeting at Wagah on April 2, 2019, which was to be preceded by a meeting of technical experts on March 19, at the proposed zero-point to finalise the alignment of the corridor.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the corridor in Pakistan was performed last year on Nov 28.
In January, Pakistan had shared its draft of Kartarpur Corridor Accord with India and invited its delegation for a visit for negotiating the document, which would govern operations of the corridor meant to provide visa-free access to Indian Sikh pilgrims to the Gurdwara in Kartarpur Sahib (Narowal district).
The corridor is planned to be opened for Sikh pilgrims this year in commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.
Pakistan and India are going through a rough patch in their relationship after 44 Indian troops were killed in suicide bombing in Pulwama district of held-Kashmir.
Following the bombing, India launched airstrike inside Pakistani territory followed by Pakistani airstrike in occupied Kashmir, shooting down an Indian jet and capturing the pilot. Pakistan’s decision to release the pilot and international pressure eventually led to a de-escalation.
