Pakistan on Thursday said that opening Kartarpur border is conditional on India responding to Pakistan, reported the Dawn.
Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal while dismissing criticism, said that Pakistan was not “pleading” with India to hold talks, but that it was the latter who had initiated contact.
Last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had contacted Prime Minister Imran Khan and had sought “meaningful and constructive” engagement between the neighbouring countries. A few weeks later, it was reported that Khan had responded to Modi and had proposed to hold a meeting between the foreign ministers of both countries.
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However India backed out from the talks after a BSF personnel was killed and three cops were killed in Kashmir. India also said that Pakistan ‘glorifies’ terrorists after they issued commemorative stamps in solidarity with ‘oppressed Kashmiris’. Slain Hizb Commander Burhan Wani featured on one of the stamps.
Kartarpur is situated in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, close to Indo-Pak border. It was established by the first Sikh Guru in 1522. The first Gurdwara, Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, was built here, where Guru Nanak Dev is said to have died.
During the briefing, the FO spokesperson said that Pakistan “could only try” to co-exist peacefully with its neighbour.
