Islamabad (Staff Report/Agencies): Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday rejected negative propaganda campaign by a section of Indian media against Kartarpur corridor initiative.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr. Muhammad Faisal, in a statement, said we are deeply dismayed at the relentless negative propaganda campaign being waged by a section of Indian media against Pakistan on the Kartarpur corridor initiative.
The FO spokesperson categorically reaffirmed that Pakistan has taken this initiative solely in deference to longstanding wishes of our Sikh brethren, especially in the wake of forthcoming 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji.
Faisal said Indian media’s coverage attributing the opening of the visa-free corridor to any other motive is purely malicious.
“We are convinced that those seeking to sow negativity around this initiative for partisan purposes or due to their known anti-Pakistan proclivities will not succeed in their designs. The Government of Pakistan will continue to do what is right for advancing this noble initiative.”, Dr Faisal stated.
The spokesperson said we have received overwhelmingly positive response from the Sikh community, not only in India and Pakistan but also from across the globe.
On November 28, Prime Minister Imran Khan on performed the ground breaking of Kartarpur corridor.
The 4-km-long corridor will connect Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan’s Narowal district. The corridor will provide visa-free access to the Indian Sikh pilgrims to the shrine.
The Gurdwara Kartarpur Darbar Sahib holds religious significance for the Sikh community. It is where Baba Guru Nanak settled down after his travels as a missionary. He lived there for 18 years until his death in 1539.
More than 3,000 Sikh pilgrims arrived in Lahore from India via special trains to celebrate the 549th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev Ji from November 21-30.
The proposal to construct the corridor providing visa-free access to Sikh pilgrims was renewed by Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa in August this year.