Pakistan trying to create 'mirage of goodwill' over Kartarpur: India

India on Saturday was lukewarm to Pakistani proposal to open corridor for Kartarpur Gurudwara from Monday and that Pakistan was trying to create “a mirage of goodwill” through this gesture.

"Cross border travel has been temporarily suspended as part of measures to prevent and contain the spread of coronavirus. Further view would be taken in consultation with health authorities and other stakeholders concerned,” sources told ET following Pak proposal.

“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,” a source pointed out.


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

Pakistan on Saturday conveyed to India that it was ready to reopen the Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib for Sikh pilgrims on June 29. In an announcement on Saturday morning, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Islamabad was prepared to reopen the corridor on the occasion of the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

The corridor was shut in March this year as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of the novel

“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,” Qureshi tweeted.

In March this year, New Delhi had temporarily suspended registration and travel to the corridor due to the pandemic.

Health officials in Punjab had said that since Pakistani citizens also had access to Kartarpur Sahib, there was a danger that some infected individuals could pass on the virus to Indian pilgrims visiting the shrine.

Earlier this week India downgraded ties with Pakistan by asking it to withdraw 50 per cent of its diplomatic staff and also deciding to withdraw 50 per cent of staff from its mission in Islamabad.