ISLAMABAD: Regional cooperation and infrastructure development are the keys to improving relations between India and Pakistan, according to an Indian expert.
Dr Rajiv Kumar, a noted economist and a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, said this while speaking at a seminar on Pak-India relations at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Monday.
The economist said both South Asian countries have to come together for regional development and cooperation in order to succeed.
“Whenever the two countries start working together some evil causes hindrance. Things will improve if the infrastructure is built to facilitate connectivity between the states,” said Kumar, who was a former secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
In terms of regional cooperation, Dr Kumar clarified that this time around India’s government is focused on improving relations with neighbours and is prepared for regional cooperation.
“We are looking for possible ventures in provinces that share boundaries with Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. In Pakistan’s case our focus would be on creating links between the Indian and Pakistani parts of Punjab as well as between Karachi and Mumbai.
He also discussed India’s growth strategy and economic prospects in the coming years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and its implications for the neighbours.
Dr Kumar believed that the Modi government was pro-market and he [Modi] himself was a pragmatic leader with a balanced market economy approach and greater focus on public-private partnerships.
He added that the sustaining agriculture and water stability is of prime importance for the incumbent Indian government which can be used to build cooperation between the two countries.
“The Indian government holds great expectations from its counterpart in Pakistan”.
He further stated that both the states were in a dire need to strengthen economic, political and social relations.
“The focus must now be on improving people to people, business to business, government to government, and non-governmental organisation to non-governmental organisation relations,” he said.
Dr Kumar said that despite promises, Pakistan has not granted India the status of most-favoured nation. He also underscored the importance of India and Pakistan engaging in talks regarding Afghanistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 24th, 2014.
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