Although Pakistan is keen on holding the talks, sources said, it thinks negotiations might get reversed once a new government comes to power in India.
New Delhi: Talks to open the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims have run into trouble as Pakistan believes it is “useless” to hold a dialogue with the Indian government ahead of the general elections.
In a recent interview to Gulf News, Fawad Chaudhry, Pakistan’s minister of information said: “It is useless to talk to them (India) now unless there is some stability. We will move forward once the new government is formed after the elections. We have delayed our efforts to hold talks with India because we do not expect any big decision from the present Indian leadership.”
Chaudhry said Islamabad will also try to resume the comprehensive bilateral dialogue after the elections.
Once the corridor is opened and necessary infrastructure is put in place, it will facilitate the visit of Sikh pilgrims to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Narowal, Pakistan, which is the final resting place of the founder of the religion, Guru Nanak. This year also marks his 550th birth anniversary.
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Current situation
Last week, Pakistan shared a draft agreement on the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor with India. New Delhi responded by giving Islamabad two dates — 26 February and 7 March — for Pakistani officials to visit India and hold the talks.
Pakistan has not yet responded to the dates. It is believed that although it is keen on holding the talks, it thinks negotiations might get reversed once a new government comes to power in India, sources told ThePrint requesting anonymity.
Meanwhile, Indian high commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria has said that several rounds of talks have taken place on the issue but he added that bilateral political contact may become “difficult” for now due to the upcoming elections.
The draft agreement
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had conducted the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on 28 November 2018.
Under the draft agreement, Pakistan has suggested India appoint a point person for the talks. Pakistan has already appointed its Director-General (South Asia & SAARC) as its point person.
While sharing the draft agreement with India, Pakistan also asked it to “urgently send a delegation” to Islamabad “to negotiate and finalise the agreement”, a press release issued by the foreign ministry stated.
Also read: Kartarpur Corridor may become a harbinger of peace for India & Pakistan, say residents
These five years will mark the longest hiatus in talks between the two countries, without something as significant as Kargil or 26 / 11 having taken place. One outcome is visible in the talks relating to a final resolution of the war in Afghanistan. India is not part of that process. The continuing effort to isolate Pakistan has created an awkward binary for the rest of the world. On this issue, it believes that Pakistan brings more to the table, excluding India is a price worth paying. The next EAM will have to start from scratch.