Thursday, March 28, 2024

India refuses visas to Pakistani journalists for Kartarpur meeting

India refuses visas to Pakistani journalists for Kartarpur meeting
March 13, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – India has refused to issue visas to Pakistani journalists for the Kartarpur meeting. Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal has regretted the Indian decision of not issuing visas to Pakistani journalists. https://twitter.com/DrMFaisal/status/1105722934742659073 He said that Pakistan had issued visas to over 30 Indian journalists who covered the Kartarpur ground-breaking ceremony last year. “The Indian journalists had also met Prime Minister Imran Khan and the foreign minister hosted a dinner in their honour,” he said. https://twitter.com/DrMFaisal/status/1105723008373673985 The Foreign Office spokesperson hoped that tomorrow’s meeting will bring a change in the lives of the people of both countries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubzp40C2NYE
Pakistani delegation to visit India for Kartarpur talks on Mar 14
Earlier, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Faisal said on Wednesday that a delegation of Pakistan will visit the India on March 14 to hold talks on Kartarpur Corridor. In his tweet, the FO spokesperson conveyed the plan to acting Indian high commissioner who was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. He also said that Pakistan was committed to continue weekly contact at the Military Operations Directorates level. “I conveyed to India today that our HC would be returning to Delhi, our Delegation will visit Delhi on 14 March, return visit of Indian delegation would be on 28 March to discuss Kartarpur Corridor, & conveyed our commitment to continued weekly contact at MO Directorate level,” the FO spokesperson tweeted. The FO spokesperson said Pakistan had also decided to send its High Commissioner Sohail Mehmood back to India. On February 8, Pakistan and India had agreed on reciprocal visits of their officials to clinch the historic agreement. It was decided that Pakistani delegation will travel to Delhi in March’s second week for initiating the process of negotiations over the accord. “We welcome the visit of Pakistan team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required,” Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar had tweeted the same day.
Pakistan, India agree on team visits to reach Kartarpur deal
On Feb 8, Pakistan and India finally agreed in principle on reciprocal visits of officials for negotiating and finalising the agreement with Pakistani delegation set to travel to Delhi on March 13 for initiating the process. “We welcome the visit of Pakistan team to discuss and finalise modalities for facilitating visit of pilgrims through Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 13 March 2019 to India. Follow up meeting can be held in Pakistan, as required,” Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. In another tweet, he said, “For expeditious realisation of #kartarpurcorridor, India has also proposed technical level discussions between engineers on both sides without waiting for discussion on the modalities. We hope #Pakistan would positively respond & confirm coordinates of crossing point as well.”