MEA source on Sharda Temple Corridor: Made Request Several Time in the Past

Islamabad has given green signal to open Sharda Peeth temple in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir for Hindu pilgrims, Pakistan media reported on Monday. The foreign ministry source said that India had made this request several times as part of the composite dialogue between India and Pakistan.

New Delhi: The Pakistan government on Monday approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to a media report.

The Sharda Peeth corridor, when opened, will be the second religious tract after Kartarpur corridor in Pakistan-controlled territory that will connect the two neighbouring nations.

India had already sent a proposal to Pakistan to open the temple corridor, the media sources reported quoting sources in Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Though the Ministry source didn't talk about the status of the proposal sent by India as reported in Pakistan.

According to reports published in Pakistan's daily, some Pakistan government officials will soon visit the area and submit a report to PM Imran Khan.

Kashmiri Pandit organisations have been demanding the opening of the Sharda Peeth corridor for many years now.

"Pakistan has decided to open the Sharda temple. Work on the project will start from the current year after which Hindus in Pakistan will also be able to visit the site," Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member of the National Assembly (MNA) Ramesh Kumar said.

Situated in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir's small village, Sardi, Sharda Temple was built around 5,000 years ago. Historically important for Kashmiri Pandita, Sharda is considered their Kuldevi, principal deity.