ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said it rejects the Indian media’s ‘negative propaganda campaign’ against the Kartarpur Corridor, even as it vowed to continue to do what is right in order to advance the noble initiative.
“We are deeply dismayed at the relentless negative propaganda campaign which is being waged by a section of the Indian media against Pakistan on the ‘Kartarpur Corridor’ Initiative,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
It added: “We categorically reaffirm that the initiative to open this Corridor has been taken by the Government of Pakistan solely in deference to the longstanding wishes of our Sikh brethren, and especially in the wake of the forthcoming 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak Dev ji. Attributing any other motives is purely malicious.”
The Foreign Ministry said that Pakistan had received an overwhelmingly positive response from the Sikh community “not only in India and Pakistan but also from across the globe”.
It reiterated that the government and the people of Pakistan shared their joy, with a solemn promise to make every possible contribution for a befitting celebration to mark Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary next year. “We are convinced that those seeking to sow negativity around this initiative for partisan purposes or due to their known anti-Pakistan proclivities will not succeed in their designs,” the statement read, adding that “Pakistan will continue do what is right for advancing this noble initiative”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan set the foundation stone to kickstart the construction of the project on November 28 at an inauguration ceremony which was attended by a few political leaders from India. Once complete, the corridor will connect Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikhism’s founder, Guru Nanak Dev, with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in the Gurdaspur district of India.
“Pakistan would now proceed with the development of the physical infrastructure for the corridor on its side of the border. We also look forward to working out necessary details and modalities with the Indian side concerning the passage through the corridor,” the statement read, adding that the inauguration of the project has created another moment of hope for the people of India and Pakistan.
“We hope every effort would be made to preserve and take the Kartarpur spirit forward,” the statement said.
Pakistan rejects ‘negative propaganda’ against Kartarpur project
Pakistan rejects ‘negative propaganda’ against Kartarpur project
- Foreign Ministry says Islamabad will continue to do what is right in order to advance the noble initiative
- Inauguration ceremony was attended by India cabinet ministers too
Pakistan says defense pact with Saudi Arabia elevated brotherly ties to ‘new heights’
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia signed strategic defense pact last year pledging aggression against one will be treated as attack on both
- Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says enduring bonds with Islamic and Arab nations form vital pillar of Pakistan’s foreign policy
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s defense pact with Saudi Arabia elevated its brotherly ties with the Kingdom to “new heights,” stressing that close ties with Arab and Islamic nations form a key pillar of Islamabad’s foreign policy.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement on Sept. 17 last year, pledging that aggression against one country would be treated as an attack on both, enhancing joint deterrence and formalizing decades of military and security cooperation.
Both nations agreed in October 2025 to launch an economic cooperation framework to strengthen trade and investment ties.
“In the Middle East, our landmark Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia has elevated our brotherly ties to new heights,” Dar said while speaking at the Pakistan Governance Forum 2026 event in Islamabad.
The Pakistani deputy prime minister was speaking on the topic “Navigating International Relations Amidst Changing Geo-Politics.”
Dar noted that Pakistan has reinforced partnerships with other Middle Eastern nations such as the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Egypt and Bahrain. He said these partnerships have yielded “concrete agreements” in investment, agriculture, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
“Our enduring bonds with Islamic and Arab nations form a vital pillar of our foreign policy, and we will continue to expand our partnerships across Asia, Latin America, and Africa,” he said.
Dar pointed out that the presidents of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have undertaken visits to Pakistan in recent months, reflecting Central Asian nations’ desire to boost cooperation with Islamabad.
On South Asia, the Pakistani deputy PM said Pakistan has successfully transformed its fraternal ties with Bangladesh into “a substantive partnership.”
“Similarly, the trilateral mechanism involving China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh has been launched with a view to expanding and deepening regional cooperation and synergy,” the Pakistani minister said.
He said Islamabad has strengthened its “all-weather” partnership with China via the second phase of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor agreement and “unwavering support” from both sides for each other’s core interests.
Dar said Pakistan had also reinvigorated its partnership with the US, advancing cooperation in trade, technology, investment, and regional stability.
“This calibrated approach has enhanced our ability to navigate complexity with skill and confidence, ensuring that our national interests are served without compromising our core foreign policy principles,” he said.
