The first round of talks between India and Pakistan on modalities of the Kartarpur corridor concluded at Attari border on Thursday, throwing up differences between the two sides.
The Indian delegation, led by SCL Das, joint secretary (internal security), Ministry of Home Affairs, proposed that 5,000 pilgrims be allowed access to the Holy Gurudwara in Kartarpur via the corridor every day. But Islamabad wanted no more than 700 pilgrims who, the Pakistani delegates said, would have to pay for the visit.
When the Indian side, which also had MEA joint secretary Deepak Mittal (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran), proposed the corridor be open to Indians as well as people of Indian origin, Pakistan's Dr Mohammad Faisal, Director-General for South Asia and SAARC, disagreed saying the corridor be open for Indian citizens only.
Before this, Islamabad had proposed that only Sikh pilgrims be allowed into the Gurudwara, but this was dismissed by New Delhi, which said that as a secular country, India could not agree to that. Pakistan then relented and accepted the proposal that the corridor be open every Indian citizen.
When India proposed that 10,000-15,000 pilgrims be allowed on special days such as Guru Purab and Baisakhi and the corridor be open all week, Islamabad said it could only allow 700 people, that too on designated visiting days.
A second meet is slated to take place on April 2 at Wagah, on the Pakistani side.
A joint statement released by both sides read, "Held detailed and constructive discussions on various aspects and provisions of the proposed agreement and agreed to work towards expeditiously operationalising the Kartapur Sahib Corridor."
Technical experts from the two countries will meet on March 19 at the proposed 'zero point' to finalise the alignment of the corridor.
Dr Faisal said after returning home: "The meeting has been positive. We have been able to move forward."
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