Controversy erupted on Wednesday, 28 November, after Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa was seen shaking hands with pro-Khalistan leader Gopal Chawla during a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the Karatarpur Corridor in Pakistan, reported news agency ANI.
A Pakistan Army spokesperson, however, said that Bajwa “met all the guests at the venue irrespective of their identity,” reported India Today.
Referring to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s statement on the possibility of a bilateral dialogue between the two countries, Indian Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said that the Kartarpur Corridor event should be seen in isolation. "Everybody talks about giving peace a chance. You see what government said today. This (Kartarpur Corridor) should be seen in isolation. It shouldn't be linked to anything else."
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the event and called for peace between the two nations, saying that: "If India takes one step forward, then Pakistan will take two."
Khan further said a decisive leadership on both the sides can resolve all issues between the two countries, including the Kashmir conflict.
Union Ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri were present at the event as the Indian government’s representatives. The corridor will allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, which is believed to be the resting place of Guru Nanak Dev.
(With inputs from ANI)
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