US encourages Pakistan-India talks on Kartarpur Corridor

Washington: United States Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus has welcomed the initiative of the Kartarpur Corridor between Pakistan and India for facilitating Sikh pilgrims.

Ortagus, while responding to a journalist who asked U.S. comments on the Kartarpur Corridor between Pakistan and India, stated that it ‘was certainly a good news report’.

In a recent press briefing, she added anything that increases people-to-people interaction between Pakistan

and India “is something the US incredibly supports.”

She mentioned that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been scheduled to visit the White House, and talks in

detail would be held with him.

During the routine press briefing, a female Afghan journalist asked a question against Pakistan, but left the

conference hall upon getting an unpleased reply from the spokesperson.

She added that the U.S. was the country that took action against the military leadership in Burma, and

Myanmar’s army chief and four other generals had played a role in the massacre of Muslims in Rohingya. The

U.S. has banned their entry into the country.

On Sunday, India and Pakistan narrowed down their differences on Kartarpur corridor and said that they have

agreed to the majority of modalities to be finalised for the operational of Sikh pilgrimage passage. Both the

sides also agreed to hold another meeting to formally conclude the agreement.

Spokesperson of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign affairs, Mohammed Faisal said that 80 percent of the

agreement has been finalised.

The meeting at Wagah in Pakistan also reviewed the progress reached in the three rounds of a technical

meeting held in March, April and May 2019.

The corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims a direct access to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur

where Guru Nanak passed away in 1537.