Ignominy drips down the faces of the foreign offices in both New Delhi and Islamabad for refusing to permit the potential goodwill generated by positive moves towards a “corridor of hope” at Kartarpur Sahib to unshackle themselves from their stereotyped hostility.

There is little point in trying to ascertain who is more to blame for the stand-off over the denial of access to the Indian mission’s staff seeking to provide consular support ~ whatever that may entail ~ to Sikh pilgrims to Nankana Sahib. Had genuine goodwill pervaded the atmosphere such pinpricks would have been taken in stride. It is also unclear who fomented the trouble, Pakistani officials or Khalistan-activists who are yet again flexing muscle in several places across the world.

When pointing accusing fingers at Canadian and British authorities, the MEA in New Delhi conveniently ignores where the core of the problem lies. Which will ensure that the Khalistan monster keeps raising its ugly head. What is particularly undiplomatic, consequentially shameful, is the strident language used by the Indian MEA over the latest “incident”.

And not for the first time when dealing with Pakistan: in contrast with its sugar-coated observations on China. Rather than exhibit uplifting restraint, the MEA creates the impression that its comments are politically-crafted, possibly intended to appeal to a section of a polarised electorate now that polls are in the air.

Has the much-trumpeted Indian Foreign Service also succumbed to saffron influences? Surely there are still enough IFS veterans around to enlighten their successors to the criticality of preserving the apolitical, impartial, professional attributes of the much-coveted branch of the civil service.

Or is the diplomatic corps to be linked with the CBI, ED, NIA etc in the chain of institutions that have been compromised after the NDA came to power? Mr Narendra Modi, Capt Amarinder Singh, Imran Khan etc have all appreciated the forward movment on the Kartapur Corridor: though they are still bogged down over claims of who is to be credited with furthering a process that was first mentioned when Benazir Bhutto was the PM in Pakistan ~ something which Navjot Singh Siddhu cares not to remember.

Yet as the nastiness at Nankana Sahib emphasises, it will take more than statements or participation in inauguration ceremonies for the corridor to became a genuine path to peace, understanding and goodwill.

Replacing the MEA spokesman in New Delhi with a less immature person might help but would be only a mini-step forward. Now that Sushma Swaraj has indicated an intention to step aside the stray voices of restraint might be silenced. Hopefully it will not be another avenue for discord and conflict that has been opened by a PMO that has arrogated all authority unto itself. The 500th anniversary of the Guru merits more enlightened celebration.