Concerns over Kartarpur corridor project still remain unaddressed by Pakistan: MEA

Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday: “At the same time, there are certain things which came to our notice; we had sought clarifications from Pakistan on a number of issues. They remain unaddressed by Pakistan.”

Written By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 04 Apr 2019 09:37 PM (IST)

Concerns over Kartarpur corridor project still remain unaddressed Pakistan: MEA Concerns over Kartarpur corridor project still remain unaddressed by Pakistan: MEA

India had shared its concerns on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee which was to be associated with Kartarpur corridor, but it is yet to receive a response from Pakistan, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

India on Thursday said that Pakistan had not yet addressed the concerns it raised with country over Kartarpur Corridor project

On Friday,India conveyed concerns over the presence of leading Khalistani separatists in a committee appointed by Pakistan on the project and postponed a scheduled meeting of experts.

Pakistan described India's decision to reschedule the meeting of experts on the Kartarpur Corridor as "incomprehensible".

New Delhi: India on Thursday said that Pakistan had not yet addressed the concerns it raised with country the presence of separatist elements in committee appointed by Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor project. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told news agency ANI that India had shared its concerns on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee which was to be associated with Kartarpur corridor, but it is yet to receive a response from Pakistan. That's why India decided to postpone meeting which was scheduled for April 2 in Wagah on the Pakistani side. Quoting official sources, news agency PTI had earlier said that leading Khalistani separatists had been appointed in a committee set up by Pakistan for Kartarpur Corridor. Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday: “At the same time, there are certain things which came to our notice; we had sought clarifications from Pakistan on a number of issues. They remain unaddressed by Pakistan.” He further said: “It's important to remember we remain committed to realise aspirations of people. Aspirations which flow out of pending demand of Indian pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib using the corridor.” On Friday, India summoned Pakistan's deputy high commissioner and conveyed concerns over the presence of leading Khalistani separatists in a committee appointed by Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor project, official sources said. They said India will wait for a response from Pakistan on the issue and is not going ahead with a previously agreed meeting on the Kartarpur corridor on April 2 in Wagah on the Pakistani side. Pakistan described India's decision to reschedule the upcoming meeting of the experts on the Kartarpur Corridor as "incomprehensible". The Pakistani Cabinet constituted a ten-member Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) to facilitate Sikh pilgrims after opening of Kartarpur Corridor, the state-run Radio Pakistan reported. However, it did not name the members of the committee. The next meeting of technical experts on the Kartarpur corridor was earlier scheduled in Wagah on the Pakistani side of the border on April 2 and was "jointly agreed by both sides" on March 14, the Foreign Office said here. "Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming Kartarpur meeting. The meeting was to discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues," Mohammad Faisal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tweeted following a statement from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday. "Last minute postponement without seeking views from Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on March 19 is incomprehensible," Faisal had then tweeted.