Pakistan on Friday regretted the Indian government's unilateral decision to postpone the agreed meeting between the officials of the two countries on Kartarpur corridor which was scheduled to be held at Wagah on Tuesday (April 2). "We regret the Indian decision to postpone the meeting on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor to be held on 2nd April 2019 as agreed by both sides in the meeting and subsequent joint statement of 14 March 2019," Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said while responding to the Indian government's unilateral decision.
According to India, it has sought postponement to seek clarification on Indian proposals on the modalities of the corridor and its concerns about 'appointments to a committee to be associated with Kartarpur Corridor."
"The scheduled meeting was being held to discuss areas of divergence with a view to align positions and reach consensus for expedited operationalisation of the corridor for the upcoming anniversary of Guru Nanak in November this year," Dr Faisal said, adding that postponing the meeting only endangers Pakistan's Kartarpur initiative.
This 10-member panel, purely religious committee referred to by India (Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC)), is not specific to Kartarpur Sahib but is responsible for upkeep of all Sikh Gurdwaras in Pakistan, he said in response to India's assertion that 'controversial elements' were included in the committee.
"It is not a new mechanism but was constituted under Section 3 of the "Scheme for Renovation, Maintenance and Preservation of Sikh Holy Shrines" in 2004 and is reconstituted after every 3 years," the spokesperson said.
"Indian postponement of the meeting without prior consultations is unfortunate and could stymie the progress made and acknowledged by both sides in the Joint Statement of 14 March 2019," he further regretted.
He made it clear that Pakistan on its part continues to be committed to uphold its promise to operationalise the Corridor for the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak in November 2019.
Earlier, Dr Faisal took to the Twitter and stated: "Pakistan regrets the Indian decision to postpone the upcoming Kartarpur meeting, jointly agreed by both sides on 14 March 2019. The meeting was to discuss and find consensus on outstanding issues."
"Last minute postponement without seeking views from Pakistan and especially after the productive technical meeting on 19 March is incomprehensible," he stated in another tweet.
The spokesperson's tweets come in response to Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement, which stated that that Indian had sought clarification from Pakistan on key proposals before holding the next meeting.
"India has also shared concerns and sought clarifications on reports that controversial elements have been appointed by Pakistan to a committee to be associated with the Kartarpur Corridor," the Indian MEA said in a statement without elaborating the alleged 'controversial elements.' It further stated: "It has been conveyed that the next meeting on the modalities can be scheduled at an appropriate time after receiving Pakistan's response."
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