High expectations from talks with Pakistan on Kartarpur Corridor: MEA

NEW DELHI: From slow pace of construction on Pakistan’s side and delay in giving its nod for a bridge to visafree access, New Delhi will raise multiple issues with Islamabad at the bilateral dialogue on Kartarpur Corridor on Sunday, officials said.

India is hopeful of meaningful talks that will help complete work along the corridor by October 31, officials of the MHA and MEA told ET.

The 500-crore project got derailed in April after India pulled out from the talks over the presence of several pro-Khalistan elements in a committee appointed by Pakistan on the Kartarpur corridor.


While Islamabad is yet to respond to New Delhi’s concern on Khalistani elements, Indian officials said they have “high expectations” for the meeting to be held on the Pakistan side of Wagah border.

“We have told our Pak counterparts that bridge and not causeway is the solution but they have expressed their inability to construct a bridge in such a short duration,” a senior MEA official said, adding that not building a bridge would lead to flooding during monsoon when the Ravi river overflows. “We will pursue our objectives at the Sunday meet.”

Pakistan needs to construct a 250-metre bridge for the corridor while Indian side will raise a 68-metre bridge on their side. The Union cabinet had taken the decision to set up the Kartarpur Corridor in November last year to facilitate easy passage of Sikh pilgrims to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. The key differences between the two sides after the first round of dialogue in March included “visa-free access” and number of pilgrims, officials said.