Kartarpur project was pushed by Pakistan Army not Imran Khan: govt source
New Delhi/UNI: The 'Kartarpur corridor', a one-way project between India and Pakistan to facilitate travel of pilgrims of all faiths, got the initial push by Pakistan Army and not the incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan, a government source said here on Wednesday.
However, the Government of India says, "The corridor project is linked to people's faith and hence India took a conscious decision".
The source in the know of things said from Indian government's perspective, the project was initiated way back in 1999 but the western neighbour was not agreeing to it.
However, in August 2018, authorities in Pakistan had given a nod for the corridor to facilitate Indian pilgrims visiting Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara in that country.
"The clearance predates to Imran Khan coming to power....so obviously we know, who cleared it," the source said, adding that it was a project of Pakistan Army.
"....it was an initiative that really came from Pakistan Army," the source said.
But from the government of India's perspective, the project is seen as a 'corridor and peace and an instrument to move ahead'.
"It was taken up with good intention and thus could not be seen as a mistake...," the source said nevertheless Pakistan's intent and India's security concerns are of paramount importance.
There have been 'sporadic reports' of Sikhs radicalisation in the Gurudwaras there, the source added.
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