Talks on Kartarpur Corridor are not resumption of bilateral dialogue: India

New Delhi: Making its stand very clear, India on Saturday stated that the impending talks on the Kartarpur Corridor are in no way a resumption of bilateral dialogue with Pakistan.

"It (Kartarpur Corridor talks) is not a resumption of any bilateral dialogue. It is related to the emotions and sentiments of Indian citizens of Sikh faith and our decision to meet (Pakistan) 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 of Indian citizens of Sikh faith to have easy and smooth access to the holy gurudwara, Kartarpur Sahib," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar stated at a media briefing here.

"Pakistan had cast some doubts on the meeting, we had never said that the meeting will not be held," he said at Saturday's briefing. "We are happy that the Pakistani delegation is coming for the meeting on March 14."

However, Kumar refused to comment on whether an Indian delegation would be visiting Islamabad on March 28, as claimed by Pakistan.

Notwithstanding the heightened tensions following the Pulwama terror attack, India and Pakistan will be holding the first meeting to discuss and finalise modalities for the Kartarpur Corridor at the Attari-Wagah on March 14.

"India has also proposed that a technical level discussion on the alignment of the corridor be held on the same day on the sidelines of this meeting," the MEA had previously outlined.