Kartarpur Corridor, Afghan peace high points of diplomacy for Pakistan government: Foreign Office

FO spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said: "despite India's refusal to start a dialogue, Pakistan went ahead with the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor which was received positively all around the world."

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses during a ceremony in Kartarpur, Pakistan, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018. (AP Photo)

New Delhi: Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal on Thursday said that the Kartarpur Sahib corridor was the “high point of diplomacy” for the Imran Khan government, while alleging that there was “no progress” on the contentious issues with India. At the same time, he reiterated the Kashmir issue and said that it remained on top of Pakistan’s priority list. While addressing a media briefing of the Foreign Office, Faisal said that high point of diplomacy for Pakistan’s new government, along with Afghan (peace) developments. Faisal accused India of not reciprocating to Pakistan’s gesture of moving forward.  He said Prime Minister Khan in a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in September gave a detailed roadmap to move forward but New Delhi failed to reciprocate. He said that despite India’s ignorance Pakistan went ahead with the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor. Faisal said that despite India's refusal to start a dialogue, Pakistan went ahead with the groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor which was received positively all around the world. Faisal said 341 Pakistani prisoners were in India, including 154 civil prisoners and 187 fishermen. However sources quoted by news agency ANI discarded the argument of Pakistan saying that Kartarpur was a cultural and religious issue, it never was any sort of resumption of dialogue. “Both PM and External Affairs Minister did reach out to Imran Khan even before he took office, but his inability to curb terror India could not move forward,” ANI quoted sources. The agency further quoted sources as saying “India’s position on dialogue remains same. Terror and talks can’t go hand in hand. Statements like 'shatranj ke chaal' and 'googly' by Pakistan leaders showed intentions.”