Kartarpur corridor cannot be considered in isolation: Pak

Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 30

A day after Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria visited the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, where Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years of his life, Pakistan added riders to the possibility of opening the Kartarpur corridor. 

Bisaria had hoped that to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev next year, the nearly 4km long corridor connected Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur on the Indian side to Kartarpur Sahib in Narowal in Pakistan could be opened up for Sikh devotees. 

Responding to questions today the Foreign Ministry Spokesperson in Islamabad confirmed the proposal being talked about but said 'it cannot be considered in isolation'. "There is a wide gulf between India and Pakistan that we are trying to narrow down. The Kartarpur corridor can be one of the moves in this regard. However, it cannot be considered in isolation. We are trying let us see," said Mohammad Faysal, Pak MOFA spokesperson. 

Meanwhile, Bisaria today paid respects at the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev in Nankana Sahib where he was presented the robe of honour or 'siropa' by head granthi Daya Singh. 

The envoy reiterated that the opening up of the Kartarpur corridor is a long standing wish of devotees and discussions are on with Pakistani authorities. "Since many years devotees have been asking for a corridor to open from Gurdaspur to Kartarpur Sahib so that it is easy for them to travel there is some positivity as our PM spoke to the new Pak PM and also wrote him a letter. So we hope and expect that the relationship will get a new direction with a new government in place in Pakistan," said Bisaria. 

Earlier this year on two occasions, Bisaria had not been allowed to enter Gurdwara Panja Sahib or interact with Sikh pilgrims visiting from India and Indian officials were turned away from Nanakana Sahib by Pakistani authorities citing security concerns. India had summoned Pakistani officials then calling it a violation of the bilateral protocol on pilgrims.