India summons Pakistani deputy envoy, protests Khalistani presence on Kartarpur panel

"We have sought clarification, some controversial individuals are reported to have been in Kartarpur panel from Pakistani side. This raises our security concern. We do not want meeting for the sake of optics," an official source said here even as in a statement the MEA said it has been conveyed that the next meeting on the modalities can be scheduled "at an appropriate time after receiving Pakistan’s response".

"We called Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner and shared our position on these issues," the source said.

"We told Pakistan categorically that while we are very keen to bring these discussions on the modalities, we need clarifications," the source said adding, the Pakistan government through cabinet decision has set up a committee on Kartarpur and number of controversial names have come in that.

These include - the names of Gopal Singh Chawla, Maninder Singh, Tara Singh, Bisan Singh and Kuljeet Singh.

"These names are controversial elements. Gopal Singh Chawla is a person who is associated with internationally designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed of JuD. They are associated with anti-India secessionist elements as are also other names," the source said

"These are serious concerns about security," the source said adding some of these developments raise questions about Pakistan's 'intention' to make use of the Kartarpur Corridor.

It has been told to the Pakistani diplomat that India has made it "very clear" during talks at Attari on March 14 and "we sought assurances that the Kartarpur Corridor facility should not be misused in any manner for anti-India propaganda or promoting activities which would be detrimental to India's interests and also affect the sentiments of the people".

The MEA statement said India remains firm about opening the Kartarpur Corridor.

In order to take forward the infrastructure development for the Corridor in an expeditious manner, India has proposed to hold another meeting of technical experts in mid-April to resolve outstanding issues at the zero point agreed to at the last meeting, it said.

"Government of India remains committed to realise the long pending demand of the Indian pilgrims to visit the holy Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib using the Corridor in a safe, secure, smooth and easy manner," the statement said.

Pakistan has thus been asked to give the clarifications.

There are also other gaps - like India had proposed for allowing about 5000 pilgrims whereas Pakistani numbers were much less. "We need clarifications on all these".

India has accused earlier that Pakistan was being "insincere" on the Kartarpur corridor and said there was "sea of differences" between what the official Pakistani delegation offered at Attari and what Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had himself announced earlier.