Pakistan Dismisses India’s Offer to Swap Land for Kartarpur
Pakistan opened the Kartarpur border in November to facilitate visa free pilgrimage by Indian Sikhs to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district, where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life.
Islamabad, December 21: Pakistan has rejected India's request to swap Kartarpur with another piece of land in order to make it a part of India. "There is absolutely no question of any land swap," said Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal here on Thursday, on being asked whether his country would consider handing over the Kartarpur land to India in a swap deal.
Pakistan opened the Kartarpur border in November to facilitate visa free pilgrimage by Indian Sikhs to Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara in Narowal district, where Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev spent the last 18 years of his life. Kartarpur Corridor Cleared Till Pakistan Border: BJP Allies, Opposition Laud Modi Govt; Ball Now in Imran Khan's Court.
"The Kartarpur Corridor was a gesture for the Sikh minority community made on their request to provide a visa free corridor, facilitating their visit of a shrine of importance to them." "The decision to open the Kartarpur Corridor was taken at the state-to-state level and the Indian government was fully involved in it," Faisal added. Kartarpur Corridor: PM Narendra Modi Invokes Berlin Wall, Says Diplomatic Move Can Connect People Together.
The Indian Punjab Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution on December 14, seeking a land swap deal between the two neighbours on Kartarpur.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 21, 2018 07:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).