Pakistan Govt To Invite Former PM Manmohan Singh For Kartarpur Corridor Inauguration

Qureshi said that a formal invitation for the same will also be extended to Singh by the Imran Khan government.

Pakistan government has decided to invite former PM Manmohan Singh for Kartarpur inauguration. /Courtesy: Getty Images

New Delhi: Pakistan Government has invited former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and not Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for the inauguration function of the much-awaited Kartarpur Corridor. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday, “We would like to extend an invitation to former Indian PM Manmohan Singh for the inauguration function of Kartarpur Corridor. He also represents the Sikh community.” Qureshi also said that a formal invitation for the same will also be extended to Singh by the Imran Khan government. However, sources in Congress revealed that Singh has so far not received any invitation from Pakistan and said that he will not accept the invitation.

“The Kartarpur corridor inauguration is a big programme and Pakistan is preparing for it in a big way,” Qureshi said. Earlier this month, Pakistan had announced that the much-awaited Kartarpur corridor will be opened for Indian Sikh pilgrims, on November 9. The announcement was made during the maiden visit of local and foreign journalists to the proposed Kartarpur corridor in Narowal, some 125 km from Lahore, amidst fresh tension between India and Pakistan after New Delhi revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. Both India and Pakistan have agreed that Pakistan would allow 5,000 Sikh visitors per day into the country through the corridor, which will also be the first visa-free corridor between the two neighbours since their independence in 1947.