Imran Khan mentions Kashmir in Kartarpur, India says ''unwarranted''

Smita Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 28

Amid the euphoria of groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur corridor by Imran Khan, India has dismissed remarks made by the Pakistani Prime Minister on Kashmir. New Delhi underlined that the Kartarpur corridor opening is a religious issue between the two countries and must not be given an overarching political context. 

"It is deeply regrettable that the Prime Minister of Pakistan chose to politicise the pious occasion meant to realise the long-pending demand of the Sikh community to develop Kartarpur corridor by making unwarranted reference to Jammu and Kashmir which is an integral and inalienable part of India," said MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. 

Earlier during the ceremony in Kartarpur in presence of his Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa, Indian government representatives and Union Cabinet members Hardeep Puri and Harsimrat Badal, Punjab Minister Navjot Sidhu and invited Indian media delegation among others, Imran Khan brought up the Kashmir bogey. "The only issue between us is Kashmir, all it needs is just two capable leaderships to resolve this issue. Just imagine the potential we have if our relationships get strong," said the cricketer-turned-politician and now Pak PM.

"Pakistan is reminded that it must fulfil its international obligations and take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and all kind of support to cross border terrorism from territories under its control," added Raveesh Kumar in his response.

This after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Hyderabad categorically rejected a fresh offer from Pakistan to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the SAARC summit to be hosted by Islamabad. 

The Kartarpur corridor groundbreaking happening just two days after the 10th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks and ahead of the G20 summit where PM Modi is expected to flag issue of terror financing and safe havens and Pakistan's grey listing by Financial Action Task Force to world leaders, including Donald Trump, means India would continue with its sharp attacks on Islamabad regardless of the new found warmth generated among the Sikh community on both sides of the border. 

"It's a step towards peace which our region needs. Barbed wire at borders is measure by a sovereign state to check/deny illegal crossings. Corridors & Gates are for legal peaceful visitors. So is the case for all our neighbors," said the Pakistani Army Chief on the corridor ground breaking occasion.