Pakistan Military Wednesday rejected Indian media propaganda involving Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa's handshake with a pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Chawla on the occasion of Kartarpur corridor groundbreaking, saying a peace initiative should not be subjected to propaganda.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major-General Asif Ghafoor took to the Twitter soon after Indian media launched a propaganda campaign on the basis of a video in which Army Chief General Bajwa can be seen shaking hand with Indian guests, members of the Sikh community that also included Gopal Chawla.
"Indian media taking a myopic view is selectively showing Gopal Chawla meeting the CoAS. The Army Chief met all guests at the venue irrespective of identity. A peace initiative should not be subjected to propaganda," the DG ISPR said in a tweet.
He further stated that the CoAS attended Kartarpura corridor ceremony. "It's a step towards peace which our region needs. Barbed wire at borders is a measure by a sovereign state to check / deny illegal crossings. Corridors & gates are for legal peaceful visitors. So is the case for all our neighbours," the DG ISPR quoted the CoAS as having said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan performed the groundbreaking of Kartarpur Corridor in a ceremony which was also attended by CoAS Bajwa, besides senior cabinet ministers of the Prime Minister.
An Indian delegation comprising Indian Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Minister for Housing Hardeep S Puri, Indian Punjab Minister for Local Government and Tourism and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu and Indian journalists along with a large number of Sikh pilgrims also witnessed the ceremony.
Talking to reporters here, Spokesperson Foreign Office Dr Mohammad Faisal said that the groundbreaking of Kartarpur corridor is a monumental event which will open many opportunities for both Pakistan and India.
"This was the initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan which was widely appreciated including by the people in India," he said, adding that the corridor will facilitate Sikh pilgrims to visit their holiest sites in Pakistan.
He said that the construction of the corridor will be completed before the next birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November 2019.