Pakistan commits protocol breach

New Delhi: India on Thursday said there had been a protocol breach committed by Pak-istan in not allowing an Indian Protocol Officer — accompanying Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal — to enter the Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara during the ground-breaking ceremony on November 28.

India also reiterated its stand that Pakistan had attempted to politicise a religious issue related to the sentiments of the Sikh community. Pakista-ni Prime Minister Imran Khan had presided over the ground-breaking ceremony on November 28 for creation of a corridor from the border to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurud-wara in Pakistani Punjab. The Kartarpur Sahib Gurudwara is situated at a close distance to the border on the Pakistani side.

The MEA confirmed th-at a Protocol Officer (assi-gned from the Indian Hig-h Commission in Islama-bad) was not allowed by Pakistani authorities to accompany Ms Badal into the Gurudwara. A protocol officer was assigned since Ms Badal is a member of the Union Cabinet.

“A protocol officer who was supposed to be there was not allowed to go inside,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at his weekly briefing on Thursday.

The MEA Spokesperson added, “We see the opening of Kartarpur corridor as a fulfillment of long pending demand of the Sikh community.”

It was unfortunate that Pakistan has attempted to politicise a religious issue related to the sentiments of the Sikh community. We hope that Pakistan will take all necessary steps to implement their announcements.”

New Delhi was upset since Pakistani PM Imran Khan had referred to the Kashmir issue in his speech during the ground-breaking ceremony.