Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday said that Kartarpur corridor initiative was not connected with dialogue process with Pakistan.
Earlier today, addressing a press conferece Sushma Swaraj welcomed Pakistan for accepting India’s demand for opening Kartarpur corridor for Sikh pilgrims.
She said that India has been asking for a corridor, which would facilitate visa-free travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur. Swaraj said she was happy that Pakistan had for the first time responded positively.
The Indian external minister also made it clear by saying “Kartarpur corridor does not mean that bilateral talks will start soon.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid foundation stone of Kartarpur corridor connecting Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur area of Narowal distric with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur India.
Former Indian cricketer and current Indian Punjab Minister of Local Government, Tourism, Cultural Affairs, and Museums Navjot Singh Sidhu, Indian Minister for Food Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Minister for Housing Hardeep S Puri, Indian journalists, foreign diplomats and a large number of Sikh yatris both local attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony Prime Minister Imran Khan appraised Indian ministers delegations and Sikh yatries for attending the ceremony.
The PM in his address said “Today I want to welcome our guests, our Sikh brothers and sisters who have come from all around the world.”
“Today, the happiness I witnessed on the faces of the Sikh community just like as Muslims feel when they go to Medina,” the PM stated.