New Delhi, Nov 6 India on Wednesday said it does not see agreeing to the Kartarpur project as a 'mistaken decision' and rather considers it to be a 'corridor of peace and an instrument to move ahead' in establishing a peaceful and harmonious relationship with Pakistan.
But those in the know of things say India's security establishment is "very very conscious" of the pitfalls as there have been 'sporadic reports' of Sikhs radicalisation in the Gurudwaras there.
To a question, the source said having sat over the project for 19 years, since August 2018, the Pakistan government took up the Kartarpur project with some kind of a 'military zeal'.
"It was done with great deal of enthusiasm....," the source said, adding that it ought to be appreciated that
the Kartarpur project survived two major bilateral crisis - the Pulwama terror strike and also the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
"There were escalated rhetoric on everything else but the Kartarpur corridor survived. That only shows that power larger than the popular government and the civil leadership in Pakistan has been pushing it," the source maintained.
Against this backdrop the source clarified - "We are doing everything to ensure that there is security compromise".
"However, the big picture remains we have concerns about Pakistan has been attempting to achieve its sinister and larger objectives, but we see opening of the Kartarpur Corridor as essentially a positive step for the pilgrims," the source maintained.
It has been clarified from New Delhi that the request to open the corridor - about 4.7 kilometres from the Pakistan-India border - is pending since 1999 when the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal had raised it in the month of February during the famous Bus Yatra to Lahore.
It is important to note that when it comes to Pakistan, it ought to be remembered that it is a huge propaganda machine and has often tried to abuse media as well.
Indian security agencies and officials seem to appreciate that Pakistan on one hand has tried to project its 'softer face' in terms of welcoming minorities and improving people to people ties - but the "mask has sometime slipped".
"In fact, on occasions the unstated objective has come out in the open. Everyone recalls how Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said it was a 'googlie' and then President of Pakistan had said Kartarpur was a great chess move".
However, the Government of India says, "The corridor project is linked to people's faith and hence India took a conscious decision".
From New Delhi's perspective, the project is seen as a 'corridor of 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.
The apprehensions of Indian agencies have been endorsed by Punjab Chief Capt Amarinder Singh who said lately that he always doubted the intention of Pak spy agency ISI.
"It is understood that Pakistan's strategic move has been to have a better leverage in possibly promoting separatist movement in Punjab. They could try to leverage the issue of Khalistan and there are talks of linking the entire matter to some Kashmiri terror groups," the source explained.
Moreover, there have been many moves to drive a wedge between Sikhs and Hindus between the Modi government and Punjab government, which is under Congress rule.
There was deliberate attempt to play up the role of former cricketer Novjyot Siddhu for instance. There were also display of separatist videos.
No clarity on Siddhu's travel to Kartarpur, Centre submits Manmohan's name in list
New Delhi, Nov 6 The Government of India has submitted a list of 550 plus pilgrims, including the likes of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, to Pakistan government for November 9 maiden travel of first batch of pilgrims to Kartarpur.
However, according to sources here, there is no clarity yet on whether former cricketer-turned-politician and Congress leader Navjyot Singh Siddhu would be going.
".....If his name is among 550 plus submitted coinciding with the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji, he does not need political clearance.....Otherwise every individual politicians would need political clearance even to travel to Nepal," a source said.
Mr Siddhu, a former Punjab Minister and who quit the government over his differences with
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has approached the Ministry of External Affairs for the necessary clearance.
Mr Siddhu has been invited by Pakistan Prime Minister and also a former cricketer Imran Khan to attend the November 9 inaugural function.
Meanwhile, government sources said 'concerns' about security and protocol related to VVIPs such as Manmohan Singh and Capt Amarinder Singh has been raised with Pakistan.
"We are yet to get any response yet....," the source said.
Kartarpur, a project pushed by Pak Army not Imran: govt source
New Delhi, Nov 6 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.
Pak not allowing travel of advance security & protocol teams for VIPs to Kartarpur
New Delhi, Nov 6 Pakistan is so far reluctant to allow travel of an 'advance security and protocol' related team to Kartarpur Sahib for Indian VVIPs such as former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, sources said on Wednesday.
"We have asked this for better coordination and out of security concerns.....only to help the VIPs to pay obeisance at the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara on November 9 when the first batch of 550 plus pilgrims are expected to visit the place," a source said here.
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