New Delhi: With talks over the Kartarpur Sahib corridor stuck in a limbo following Indian concerns over Khalistani propaganda in Pakistan, Islamabad may be gearing up for another bonanza for Sikh pilgrims. With the festival of Baisakhi scheduled to be celebrated next week, a large number of Indian Sikh pilgrims may be allowed to visit Guru dwaras in Pakistan to worship there on the occasion.
Speculation is rife that Pakistan may announce a major initiative next week on “people-to-people exchanges” between the two sides.
In what could be another positive development, Pakistan may also agree to India’s suggestion to hold another meeting of technical experts in mid-April to discuss the alignment of corridors at the “zero-point” crossing of the border for the Kartarpur Sahib corridor that is being built by both sides in their respective territories for the Sikh pilgrimage that will take place in November this year to the famous Kartarpur Sahib Gurud-wara close to the border in Pakistani Punjab.
Incidentally, Pakistan High Commissioner and now Foreign Secretary-designate Sohail Mahm-ood is expected to meet Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale in New Delhi next week in a courtesy call before Mr Mahmood returns to Pakistan to take over as Foreign Secretary there.
It may be recalled that Mr Mahmood’s innings as Pakistani High Commissioner in New Delhi was marked by his strong push for strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries despite political and military tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
