City
Epaper

Passports needed for Kartarpur, will go by MoU: India

By IANS | Updated: November 7, 2019 16:55 IST

Amid conflicting messages emanating from Pakistan ahead of the Kartarpur inauguration, India on Thursday said that pilgrims going from India would have to carry their passports to use the cross-border corridor to reach the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

Open in App

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, addressing a briefing here, said that despite the corridor slated to be inaugurated on Saturday "a sense of confusion continues", in the wake of the latest tweet by Pakistan military's media wing.

Kumar said the Indian government would go by the bilateral MoU inked between the two sides on the Kartarpur corridor.

"As of today, there is a bilateral document which has been signed between the two sides, which very clearly specifies the documents needed to undertake the visit," he said.

On Thursday, Pakistan Director General of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted, saying that Indian Sikh pilgrims would require a passport to visit the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara.

On November 1, Prime Minister Imran Khan had tweeted that no passport would be needed for identification and prior registration for the visitors, leading to numerous questions from Indian pilgrims.

The Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province is located 4.5 km from the Indian border. The shrine will be accessible to Indian pilgrims throughout the year via the corridor.

The MEA spokesperson said any amendment to the MoU "cannot be done unilaterally, it requires consent of both parties".

"So for the time being we are going by the requirements as stipulated in the MoU," he said.

He said that those undertaking the journey on November 9 and later "will have to go by what is contained in the MoU, till it is revised or amended to include other provisions requested or proposed by the Pakistani side".

Asked if Pakistan has confirmed the list of the 550 delegates to use the corridor on November 9, he said that so far Pakistan has not got back on the list.

"Pakistan is supposed to confirm the final list of pilgrims at least four days in advance of the visit. The journey is to take place the day after tomorrow, and so we presume that all the names we have shared with Pakistan, they stand confirmed and we have accordingly informed those who are part of the jatha," he said.

He also said that since there are former prime ministers and chief ministers in the jatha "adequate arrangements should be made in terms of security for the dignitaries" by Pakistan.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: pakistanRaveesh KumarImran Khan
Open in App

Related Stories

Cricket'From Allah, to Allah': Pakistani Cricketer Aamir Jamal Mourns Newborn Baby's Death

OpinionsPak Trapped in Uncle Sam’s Game

Cricket'Immoral and Barbaric': Rashid Khan Reacts After Pakistan Airstrikes Kill 3 Cricketers in Afghanistan

InternationalPakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: At Least 15 Civilians Killed, Over 100 Injured in Pakistani Artillery Fire in Kandahar

Cricket'India Hamare Baap The..': Pakistani Fan Abuses Men in Green After Loss to India in Asia Cup 2025 Final (Watch)

National Realted Stories

NationalSikkim, UP biodiversity panels get Rs 18.3 lakh under benefit-sharing mechanism

NationalE-Bill module: Law Ministry eyes digitisation of advocate fee disbursal

National'Tool to harass poor': Congress hits out at ECI for SIR in Tamil Nadu

NationalGoa: ED files prosecution complaint against 7 in international drug trafficking case

National'Accused should be shot in front of hospital': RG Kar victim’s father on Mumbai doctor suicide