ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's most troubled foreign relationships have improved in recent months, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said on Saturday, pointing to upcoming trade talks with New Delhi and broad agreement on regional security goals with Washington as evidence.
Khar, in an exclusive interview with Reuters, said negotiations to normalise trade with India would allow progress on other issues between the two countries.
"I think it's broadly agreed that we need to make some simultaneous progress on these issues," she said.
Trade has long been tied to political issues between the neighbours.
The hope is that an increase in trade will feed into wider trust between the two countries and help them resolve major flashpoints, like the disputed Kashmir region, although a solution to this problem has proved intractable for decades.
"But there has been a great improvement in the environment," she said. "I think we can move forward."
She strongly denied that Pakistan was not committed to finalising Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status for India, as alleged by an unnamed Indian government official on Friday, who said Islamabad was "backtracking" on the issue in the face of domestic opposition.
"There is absolutely no question of backtracking of cabinet approval of trade normalisation with India," she said. "I want to completely dismiss any indication that there's any retraction on what we said."
Pakistan announced it would upgrade India to a most favoured nation on Wednesday, a move that would help normalize commercial ties by ending heavy restrictions on what India is allowed to export across the border.
Khar said the two countries' commerce secretaries would meet in mid-November to hammer out the details of the trade agreement, but that there was no lack of commitment to the agreement itself.
"The cabinet very clearly gave them a way forward, which is trade normalisation with India," she said.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani also rejected the charges of backtracking in comments to reporters in Lahore on Saturday.
Less than one percent of India's merchandise exports are sold to Pakistan, in terms of dollar value, but in September a joint statement pledged to double bilateral trade flows within three years to about $6 billion.
Lasting peace between the two countries is seen as key to stability in the South Asian region and to helping a troubled transition in Afghanistan as NATO-led forces plan their military withdrawal from that country in 2014.
Khar said relations with the United States were also on the mend, with "a complete convergence of stated interests" on Afghanistan.
"Nothing would make us happier than a strong government in Afghanistan," she said. "I look at the last few weeks, and relations with the US have been generally positive. It's basically the operational details to agree on."
COMMENTS (21)
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Thanks Ms Khar. I am not sure whether it is change of heart or mounting international pressure. We have to see actions over a period of time.
@Sao Lao you are in a minority that want chaos and ill feelings towards countries that neighbor us and @Ravi unless you have been in a deep @hibernation Ties between the two countries India and Pakistan are improving! We should be very proud of Minister Khar for her constant appearance in the world, she has increased the image of Pakistan to prove to the world that in spite of all the God given talents we are not a nation of barbarians that slaughter their own to feed our savage instincts. Pakistan lacked a coherent messenger and Minstre Khar has filled that vacuum on the world stage her detractors that wish her failure are a minority that want to live in isolation when the only path to success for the enormous talent that is Pakistan is the entry and acceptance onto the world stage where institutions feel safe to invest and use the huge talented pool of young men and women thus raising the standard of living and encouraging more investment into the country that is a win-win solution to rid Pakistan of the huge uncertain future our children may have to experience.
Has the foreign minister actually cleared this with GHQ in Pindi?? In regards to India , which relations are improving??? Do you really think that the Indian actually even care about MFN?? Well rest assure its another illusion on your part!!!! The first issue that the Indians would like to clear up is dealing with the culprits of Mumbai Massacre of 2008, the Victims families are still waiting for justice!!!!! In regards to US, well its another matter, as public statements are made to please the local audiance, however privately there is nothing near normalising of the relationship and she is well aware of it from her last trip to US !!!
Absolutely positive and this process requires an appropriate support from all political parties. The International economic and security situation predictably demands Pakistan's stable relations with all stakeholders in the regional stability. The real work to establish trust between India and Pakistan has just started and, there would be many incidents that may disrupt the process, but, Pakistan and India must not take extreme policy actions against each other. The similar can be proposed for the US, it too must not blame Pakistan for every wrong that happen in Afghanistan. The fact of the matter is that under the current domestic socioeconomic pretext, every political/military leader should maintain friendly and "JUST" relationship and thereby defend Pakistan's National Security interests in the world. Obviously, one cannot focus only on economic benefits because human security comes in all shapes and kinds. Due to Afghan war and the flexibility of US regional/strategic desires, it is useful to engage with India & Russia in a much more broader fashion. A long-term and sustainable relationship with the US and India is the suitable answer to Pakistan's progress
@V K Bajaj (New Delhi): thats the spirit...a refreshing attitude mr.bajaj.
@Ravi: if you are really aware of the status...u would not forget that pakistan has drasticaly changed its policy. it no longer demands settlement of kashmir before any other matter.this is very positive and we should appreciate and encourage them.
Well they can only get better from here. The only country in the world which doesn't hate Pakistan is China and that's only for convenience.
@V K Bajaj
Wait till the same Khar rants about Kashmir.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
@V K Bajaj (New Delhi): beautiful !!!!!!!!!!!
@Sao Lao: I think you need to come out of virtual world of hatred and face the reality. Don't agree with me, read the book " Pakistan - between Mulla & Miltary " written by Mr Haqqani, a Pakistani.
@V K Bajaj (New Delhi):
Some contrast with Hillary, Huh? And your Sonia. Hina is quite capable as well.
@MarkH: Pakistan is absolutely clear about its strategic interests and security concerns. At the same time Government of Pakistan has adequate insight into the intentions and behind the scene activities of various stake holders. Under the circumstances possibility of paying any attention to any conspiracy theory is quite remote.
It is a very bold & realistic view that Pakistan govt has taken regarding the MFN status. Pakistan can no longer afford to keep isolated from the fast moving world only because of a single point agenda of hating India and there appeasing few conspiracy theorists.
Beautiful people are never merely Beautiful by face only but are Beautiful by concept also. Beautiful people always think Beautifully, employ Beautiful tools and Beautiful procedure to achieve Beautiful Result.
Khar! I appreciate and acknowledge your Beautiful style of performing duties toward Pakistan and creating a Beautiful atmosphere for growth if Indo Pak and Pak US relations.
"Pakistan announced it would upgrade India to a most favoured nation on Wednesday, ...." What is the real truth?
@buttjee: And Pakistan should also be careful of taking the opinions of conspiracy theorists into considerations.
Improvement in relations with India & US is very encouraging as it is very important for peace and prosperity of all the countries in the region. In order to cement their relations into a good neighbourly bondage, India and Pakistan must make serious efforts to resolve all their disputes as soon as possible. However Pakistan should be extra careful in resolving its differences with America due to very obvious divergence of strategic interests in the end game in Afghanistan. Pakistan simply cannot afford to have a Government in Kabul which gets dictation from those countries who have a secret agenda of destabilizing Pakistan's provinces bordering Afghanistan.
Its good to know that Pakistan no more is tying trade relations with political relations in dealing with its neighbors. Khar's assertions would be tested in coming days further moves of Pakistan in this regard. Pakistan has hostile or strained relations with all its neighbors. There should be a free trade post after every 100 miles on Pakistan's borders with all countries. It would bring much needed normalization of relations and prosperity for all.
What you mean to say is Ties made from India and Pakistan are improving??
No need to improve the ties with these two. There is nothing to gain