ISLAMABAD: Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Faisal on Thursday said Pakistan was determined to open the Kartarpur corridor with India as per the announcement made by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Pakistan has completed over 85 percent work on Kartarpur Corridor and construction work has entered into its final phase now. Sources said the construction work will be completed before the eve of 550 birth anniversary of Guru Nanak this year in November.
Opening of Kartarpur border has been hailed by Sikh community and human rights organisations around the world which may help normalizing the situation between Pakistan and India. It was a long-awaited demand of the Sikh community which lives in majority in Indian Punjab.
Pakistan respects all ethnicities and this initiative will make it easy for the Sikh pilgrims to visit their holy shrine. Through this initiative, Pakistan has conveyed a message of love and peace to the world.
Addressing his weekly press conference in Islamabad, Mohammad Faisal responding to a query said, “No decision has been taken regarding placing restriction on airspace for India as yet. But Pakistan can use this option at the time of its choosing.”
He said a special section had been created on the MOFA website for spreading awareness on violations of human rights in the Indian occupied Kashmir.
“People are requested to go through readily available data and disseminate it,” he said.
The spokesperson reiterated that Kashmir was not India’s internal matter and it should be resolved according to the UN resolutions. “We want it to be resolved according to the wishes of Kashmiris,” he added.
Also Read: Construction work of Kartarpur Corridor nears completion
He said Pakistan will continue ethical and diplomatic support of Kashmiris. He relayed there was deficiency of medicines and food in the valley, as curfew in the IoK had entered 25 consecutive days.
Faisal said as the director general for South Asia and SAARC he had summoned the Indian High Commissioner on Wednesday to Pakistan to register the protest against Kashmir human rights violations.
He said India’s stance on Kashmir dispute had changed over the time.
On Afghanistan, he said Pakistan regretted the recent incident of firing across border from Afghanistan. He said as a matter of policy Pakistan did not retaliate on Afghanistan border.
