India on Saturday said the Kartarpur corridor talks are related to the emotions of Indian citizens of Sikh faith and it is not in any way a resumption of bilateral dialogue.
India had earlier this week said its first meeting with Pakistan to finalise the modalities of the Kartarpur corridor would be held on the Indian side of the Attari-Wagah border on March 14.
Asked if the time was right to hold the dialogue amid the ongoing tensions in bilateral ties, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that one should understand the purpose and objective of the Kartarpur talks and it was not in anyway a resumption of bilateral dialogue.
"It is related to the emotions of Indian citizens of Sikh faith. Our decision to meet reflects our strong commitment to operationalise the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev ji and also to meet the long pending demand to have easy and smooth access to the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib," Kumar said.
Pakistan had cast some doubts on the meeting but India never said the meeting will not be held, the MEA spokesperson said, adding "We are happy that Pakistanis are coming for this meeting on the 14th."
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