Asked if the time was right to hold the dialogue amid the ongoing tensions in bilateral ties, MEA said that one should understand the purpose and objective of the Kartarpur talks and it was not in anyway a resumption of bilateral dialogue.
India is scheduled to discuss modalities of the operationalisation of Kartarpur Corridor with Pakistan on March 14, the External Affairs Ministry (MEA) said on Wednesday.
Bisaria said India had consented to the basic points about the Kartarpur corridor except for its zero-point (crossing point).
The Union Cabinet in November last year decided to develop the Kartarpur Corridor from Gurdaspur in Punjab to the International Border to facilitate pilgrims' passage to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan as part of the 550th birth year celebrations of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev, later this year.
The recommendations call for Indian pilgrims to be given free entry and that facilitation centres and security check-posts to be set up on both sides of the border.
Pakistan on Thursday described the Kartarpur corridor as the "high point of diplomacy" for the Imran Khan government while admitted that there was "no progress" on the contentious issues with India.
Pakistan opened the Kartarpur border in November to facilitate visa free pilgrimage by Indian Sikhs to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district, where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life.
Commenting on the Kartarpur Corridor he said that it was unfortunate that Pakistan attempted to politicise a religious issue.
Imran Khan bowled a 'googly' at India with Kartarpur corridor, says Pakistan FM Qureshi
Many Punjab ministers have demanded his resignation over his jibe at Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and calling Rahul Gandhi as his 'captain'.
“Get your facts right before you distort them, Rahul Gandhi Ji never asked me to go to Pakistan," Sidhu tweeted.
Pakistan PM’s remarks came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj categorically ruled out the possibility of holding talks with Pakistan unless it stops cross-border terror activities.
Pakistan continues to arm and export terrorists into India, and the sight of a Khalistani separatist Gopal Singh Chawla shaking hands with the Army Chief underlined where the priorities of the Pakistani leadership lie.
The gurdwara, which fell inside Pakistan's territory following the Partition of India in August 1947, has huge significance in Sikh religion and history.
The Kartarpur Corridor, which will facilitate the visa-free travel of Sikh pilgrims on both sides, is expected to be completed within six months.
Badal, along with Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri , crossed over to the neighbouring country through Attari-Wagah land route in Amritsar to attend the ceremony as representatives of the Indian government.
Pak PM Imran Khan to lay stone for Kartarpur corridor today
The Punjab chief minister, however, said that he acceded to Sidhu’s request for permission as he did not believe in stopping anyone from undertaking a “personal visit”.
“I feel that this corridor will be a bridge and erase enmity. It will increase people to people contact and bring peace. It is my belief that there are possibilities in it," Sidhu said.
The decision to build the corridor — from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to the international border — was taken by the Union Cabinet on November 22.
Top News
Latest News
