'Pakistan agrees to visa-free travel'

He said the Pakistani side was apprised of the ban imposed by Government of India on US-based pro-Khalistan outfit 'Sikhs for Justice'

Attari/New Delhi: India on Sunday handed over a dossier to Pakistan about individuals and organisations based in the neighbouring country which might try to disrupt pilgrimage to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, following which Islamabad assured that no anti-India activity would be allowed. The government Sunday said that Pakistan has "in-principle agreed" to build a bridge to connect with the Indian side and to allow visa-free travel for Indian passport holders and OCI card-holders. India flagged its security concerns during a meeting that took place between delegations of the two countries on the Pakistani side of the Attari-Wagah border to discuss the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor. New Delhi had earlier conveyed its strong concerns to Pakistan over the presence of a leading Khalistani separatist in a committee appointed by Islamabad on the project. After the second round of talks on the project, Home Ministry Joint Secretary S C L Das said Pakistani officials confirmed that controversial Sikh leader Gopal Singh Chawla was dropped from various bodies, including as secretary general of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC).

"We have shared our concerns regarding individuals or organisations based in Pakistan who may try to disrupt the pilgrimage and misuse the opportunity," he told a press conference at the Attari border on the Indian side "To highlight the concerns, we handed over a dossier today containing information about these organisations and individuals which may pose a kind of potential threat to our pilgrims. We have handed this over with a request that they seriously act upon it," Das said. The Pakistan side assured the delegation that no anti-India activity would be allowed, the joint secretary, who headed the Indian delegation, said. On Chawla, Das said, "We had sought confirmation that individuals like Chawla were removed from the bodies to which we had raised objection. So they confirmed in that Chawla had been removed from PSGPC and other bodies." He said the Pakistani side was apprised of the ban imposed by Government of India on US-based pro-Khalistan outfit 'Sikhs for Justice'.

"We told them that we have declared this organisation unlawful and gave them our gazette notification banning it. We told them we have information that this organisation is also operating from their land," he said. The Indian delegation also sought consular presence in the gurdwara to be able to provide assistance to pilgrims, if required. India urged Pakistan to take into consideration the sentiments of pilgrims to have smooth, easy and unrestricted access to the gurdwara throughout the year, Das said. A statement by the Home Ministry said Pakistan was requested to reconsider charging any fee or introducing any permit system for pilgrims. The Indian delegation comprised representatives from the Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry, Defence Ministry, the Punjab government and the NHAI.

A statement of the External Affairs Ministry said progress was made in finalising the draft agreement with regard to the modalities. "It was agreed to allow visa-free travel for the Indian passport holders and OCI card holders seven days a week. Throughout the year, 5000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara per day. The pilgrims will be allowed to travel as individuals or in groups and also on foot," it added. India has been urging Pakistan that 5,000 pilgrims be allowed to visit the gurudwara every day and 10,000 additional pilgrims be allowed on special occasions with no restriction in terms of faith. Das said the delegation raised the issue of encroachment and acquisition of land belonging to the gurdwara. "We have requested Pakistan to honour religious sentiments and remove the encroachment, besides restoring the land to the gurdwara," he said.

The statement said Pakistan has agreed to look into the issue. The work on the four-lane highway to the crossing point at the IB is progressing well and is on schedule, officials said. It will be completed by end September. India is also constructing a state-of-the-art construction passenger terminal facility that can accommodate 15,000 passengers, they said. The bone of contention is connecting the two sides at the zero point which was also discussed. India is constructing a bridge at the zero point and has urged Pakistan to build a similar bridge on its side that will provide safe and secure movement of pilgrims and address concerns regarding flooding.

Another option proposed by Pakistan is building a causeway which is also not acceptable to India as it has been insisting on an all-weather bridge. The bridge is over a creek of which the majority part falls in Pakistan. The Indian delegation shared detailed flood analysis to Pakistan to highlight these concerns. The Indian delegation said an earth filled embankment or a causeway proposed by Pakistan will create problems for its people and this should not be built even in the interim. "Pakistan side agreed, in principle, to build a bridge at the earliest," it said. "Pending the construction of a bridge over the old Ravi creek by Pakistan on their territory, India offered to make interim arrangements for making the corridor operational in November, given the historic importance of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev," it added. Das expressed confidence that India would be ready to commence the pilgrimage on the auspicious occasion.

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