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Pakistan had limited, narrow focus during Kartarpur talks: India

WION
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaWritten By: Sidhant SibalUpdated: Mar 16, 2019, 02:31 PM IST
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Kartarpur gurudwara. (Picture courtesy: Pakistan Foreign Ministry) Photograph:(WION)

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In the recent talks on Kartarpur corridor, Pakistan has said it can only allow 700 pilgrims in a batch of 15 on a designated day by getting a paid permit.

India has said Pakistan had very narrow focus during the first round of Kartarpur talks which took place on February 14 on the Indian side of Attari-Wagha border. New Delhi has expressed its disappointment at Pakistan's proposal of paid pilgrimage to visit Kartarpur corridor.

In response to the Indian proposal of allowing 5,000 pilgrims per day for visit to corridor, which New Delhi wants to be open on all seven days, Pakistan has said it can only allow 700 pilgrims in a batch of 15 on a designated day by getting a paid permit.

Sources told WION that the initial announcement made by PM Imran Khan gave an impression that this was a generous, open-ended offer but the perceived generosity was not matched by the discussions in the recent meeting. 

The next round of Karatrpur talks will take place on April 2 in Wagah.

Reacting to a query on 'referendum 2020' by Khalistani groups based in Pakistan, US and UK, a government source told WION that India has conveyed to foreign governments that their citizens talking about a referendum in another country amounts to interfering in the internal affair of another country. 

India maintained that the issue is raised by a very small part of the Sikh community and the noise made by them does not represent the view of the entire community.

Pakistan has been indulging in Khalistani propaganda. The source, while speaking to WION, highlighted the fact that Khalistani Gopal Chawla was present at Kartarpur corridor's groundbreaking inaugural ceremony in November 2018 in Pakistan.

Gopal Singh Chawla has had a very close relationship with 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Chawla, on multiple occasions, has released videos threatening India with violence.