Pakistan to invite Indian former PM Manmohan Singh for Kartarpur Corridor inauguration

Manmohan Singh

By Nasir Aijaz
AsiaN Representative

Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to invite former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh for the inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Monday.

“We have decided after consultation that we want to invite former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (to the Kartarpur inauguration),” Foreign Minister Qureshi in a video message released to media.

Qureshi said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had  personal interest in the project. The minister, while justifying the decision, said Sikhism was Singh’s religion and that he was a representative of the Sikh community.

“As Foreign Minister of Pakistan, I am extending an invitation to former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh to attend the inauguration ceremony,” Qureshi said in the message.

He added that Pakistan would send a written invitation as well to the former Indian prime minister.

Qureshi also extended an invitation to the Sikh community to attend the inauguration, which will be held during the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion. Annually, a large number of Sikhs from India as well as from other countries visit the birthplace of Guru Nanak and their other sacred places located in Pakistan.