Former Indian cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has accepted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s invitation to attend the opening ceremony of the Kartarpur Corridor on November 9. In Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), however, said the “political clearance” would have to be sought for it.
“Those who Pakistan wants to call have to take political clearance,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said at a briefing, to a question on Sidhu accepting an invite by Imran Khan to attend the November 9 inauguration ceremony.
He also said India has given Pakistan a list of 480 pilgrims for the inaugural ‘jatha’, and is awaiting clearance from Pakistan.
According to a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) press release, Sidhu thanked the Pakistan Prime Minister for inviting him to the inauguration.
“I’m grateful to the Prime Minister for inviting me to the historic inauguration of the Kartarpur Corridor,” he was quoted as saying.
On the directives of Imran, PTI Senator Faisal Javed had contacted Sidhu and extended the invitation.
Sidhu said the Sikh community all over the world looked forward to visiting the holy shrine associated with Guru Nanak.
“The Kartarpur Corridor agreement sends a positive message to millions of Sikhs around the world,” he was quoted as having said by the Pakistani media.