Published 18:19 IST, July 12th 2019
India to raise Pakistan's shocking appointment of terrorist Hafiz Saeed's aide Gopal Singh Chawla in Kartarpur corridor panel
Government sources have told India is likely to raise concerns to Pakistan over the appointment of Hafiz Saeed's aide Gopal Singh Chawla in Kartarpur Corridor panel
Indian and Pakistani experts are set to meet on Sunday at the Wagah Border to chalk out the agreement for finalising the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor and related technical issues. Amid the development, Government sources have told that during the meeting the Indian side is likely to raise concerns to Pakistan over the appointment of Khalistani terrorist and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's aide Gopal Singh Chawla in the Kartarpur Corridor panel.
Furthermore, India will seek clarification on his Chawla's role in the panel and seek the steps taken by Pakistan to address the concerns over his involvement in anti-India activities, sources added, keeping in mind the highest priority for India being the security and safety of the Indian pilgrims in Pakistan, which the Indian side said is "non-negotiable".
Earlier in March, India had summoned Pakistan's deputy high commissioner Syed Haider Shah and conveyed concerns over the presence of a leading Khalistani separatist Chawla in the committee appointed by Pakistan on the Kartarpur Corridor project.
Meanwhile, as per government sources, there are some major differences between India and Pakistan over the construction of Kartarpur corridor. Sources have told that Pakistan has yet not agreed to build the elevated road asked by India to prevent the possible disruption caused by the flooding of Ravi river in the corridor path. While the neighbouring country has only agreed to build a causeway, India will have to build stairs on the way to thwart the problem for the Indian pilgrims. As present, 60% of the highway construction is over on the Indian side, along with the construction of passenger terminal which currently is also progressing well. However, the construction work on the Pakistan side remains relatively slow.
India aims to complete the entire project on the own side by October 31, 2019. The corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan's Kartarpur with Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district and facilitate visa-free movement of Indian Sikh pilgrims, who will have to just obtain a permit to visit Kartarpur Sahib, which was established in 1522 by Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev.
Updated 18:55 IST, July 12th 2019