Grand plan: The design of the proposed passenger terminal building for the Kartarpur project.
Delegations of the two countries will hold talks on development of Kartarpur corridor, in Attari on Thursday.
India is likely to urge Pakistan to not use the Kartarpur shrine for propaganda about the Khalistan issue, sources said in New Delhi on Wednesday. The issue is part of the security concerns that is being considered by the Indian side as paramount topic for the bilateral talks that will be held in Attari on Thursday.
“We would like to see that Pakistan doesn’t use the presence of pilgrims from India in Kartarpur shrine for propaganda purposes on the Khalistan issue,” said a source aware of India’s plans for Thursday’s talks that will finalise the details of the religious corridor project on the ground.
The project will include a vast facility for the pilgrims on the Indian side, which will be ready to host at least 5,000 pilgrims on any given day. It was learnt that India will also prepare for a “surge” in pilgrims flow during special and festive seasons. Accordingly, facilities will be created for at least 10,000 more pilgrims on the facilities on the Indian side.
India has acquired 50 acres for the facility for pilgrims and the facility will be built in “Khanda” style, which represents oneness of the humanity.
The Indian and Pakistani delegations will deliberate on passport and visa related issues. The Indian position, the sources said was one of making the holy shrine available to “optimal” number of people. “We are looking for visa-free travel facilities for 5,000 Indian pilgrims in the first phase itself,” said a source.
The talks will also include discussion over mismatch between the alignment os Indian and Pakistan plans that will also feature in the talks. The facility that India will build on the Indian side of the project will include 54 immigration counters for processing the paper works necessary for the visit to the Gurdwara, which is one of the holiest shrines associated with Sikh religion.
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