'Mirage of goodwill': India on Pak’s call to resume Kartarpur corridor

Rejecting Pakistan’s call to open Kartarpur corridor next week, India has suspended cross-border travel between the two countries temporarily to curb the spread of Covid-19.

India has rejected Pakistan’s call of opening the Kartarpur corridor next week onwards. Also, the cross-border travel between India and Pakistan has been temporarily suspended as a measure to contain the spread of coronavirus, according to sources. As per the sources, Cross border travel has been temporarily suspended as part of measures to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus. The further view would be taken in consultation with health authorities and other concerned stakeholders.

The sources further said that it is to be noted that Pakistan is trying to create a mirage of goodwill by proposing to resume Kartarpur corridor on 29 June, at the short notice of 2 days, while bilateral agreement provides for information to be shared by India with Pakistan side at least 7 days before the date of travel. This would need India to open up the registration process well in advance.

Besides, Pakistan has not built the bridge on its side across the flood plains of the Ravi river despite having committed to it in the bilateral agreement. With the advent of monsoon, it would need to be evaluated whether the pilgrim movement is possible through the corridor in a safe and secure manner, as told by the sources.

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This comes hours after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi tweeted that, as places of worship open up across the world, Pakistan prepares to reopen the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor for all Sikh pilgrims, conveying to the Indian side our readiness to reopen the corridor on 29 June 2020, the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

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