“It’s our top priority to ensure uninterrupted dialogue with India, so that resolution of core issues could be ensured,” Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament on Wednesday.
The MFN status for India comes in return for lifting non-tariff restrictions on imports from Pakistan.
Simply put, MFN status provides trade equality among partners by ensuring that an importing country will not discriminate against another country’s goods in favour of those from a third. Once the importing country grants any type of concession to a third country, this concession must be given to all other countries.
(Read: Pakistan to grant MFN status to India … eventually)
Khar spoke about improving relations with India. “We have achieved ground on trade with India. And for the first time in history, an Indian foreign minister attended a reception hosted by Pakistan’s foreign minister in New York,” Khar said referring to her recent meeting with SM Krishna on the fringes of the US General Assembly session.
Pakistan appears to have put aside festering issues with India, including the Kashmir dispute, that have marred economic relations between the two neighbours. But Khar sought to allay such fears, saying that the Kashmir issue had been discussed in all bilateral interactions between the two countries during the last three years.
(Read: Breakthrough in Mumbai - India, Pakistan agree to trade concessions)
“I raised the Jammu and Kashmir issue with my Indian counterpart at the ministerial meeting in New Delhi in July 2011. The joint statement of the ministerial meeting underscored the need for continued discussion on Jammu and Kashmir in a purposeful and forward-looking manner with a view to finding a peaceful solution by narrowing down divergences and building convergences,” Khar said.
She said Pakistan wanted good relations with India by sticking to its “principled stance” on Kashmir.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2011.
COMMENTS (93)
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its good madam khar bt 1stly u should have to confirm that it all follow this or nt...pakistan always telling a lie..so how could we believe that???
How much more mockery and ridicule is the poor Pakistani nation going to endure? This is not only an insult to the Kashmiri sentiment but a total disregard of the Kashmiri genocide issue. The greed to make money at the cost of not settling long standing UN resolution about granting the right of self determination to the illegal Indian occupation of Kashmir is an insult. Also India is bent upon degrading the image of Pakistan internationally and to top it all off has masterminded terrorist acts in Pakistan to cripple it. So why this benefit and advantage to India?? Pakistani leadership should use their trump card wisely!
Doing business with India under the current circumstances is a security risk for Pakistan. Opening bus and railway routes with India is fool hardy and open invitation to Indian sponsored terrorism in Pakistani cities. Pakistan needs to back away from doing any business with India and watch its borders and own backyard. Under the current circumstances, there are plenty of other countries Pakistan can do business with.
@Observer: If you had read my comments carefully you would have observed that I used the words "all ills" which leaves a chance for machinations on part of both countries. Intelligence agencies around the world employ all sorts of covert dirty tactics to further their perceived interests. This may happen with or without the approval / information of their governments. While morally and ethically this aint right, but realties are realities. Do you think there are no internal issues burning in India with which she is trying to grapple with? Of course there are quite a few of these. Does that imply that if India does not accept the realities of those issues, she is also in a state of denial? It is not a question of denial in my view, its about putting the facts staright! The thrust of my comments was that both countries need to look into future in economic terms while continuing with the efforts to resolve their long standing issues.
@Bipul Rajput: Why Kashmiris should move and leave their own Land?
1- Its only Kashmiries who have more right to live in Kashmir than any other.
2- It Kashmiries who have a right to decide how they want to live.
3- Why Indian took Kashmir dispute in UN and promised that they will give Kashmiries Right to Self-Determination?
4- When Paksitan and Indian seperated it was clear that in states where Muslim have Majority will be included in Pakistan. Kashmiries also wanted to to live with Pakistan. Kashmir is a still disputed area this is proving that this problem have not been solved and india is forcefully controlling that area.
5- Hindus are not the owner of Kashmir land. Its Kashmiries who are the only owner of Kashmir. Forget Ancestral days. Now world have completely changed.
One day Kashmir will not be a part of India and those days are very near now.
Considering all the hate mails in this post, it is better not to do any business with Pakistan. I just wonder whether any Indian businessman will import anything from Pakistan and sell it with the "Made in Pakistan" label. Unless ofcourse he wants to do charity.
Very good decision, keep it up.
Pakistan and India should trade, those who oppose trade today, will regret it is coming years because both countries cannot afford to remain alien even after 65 years of seperation.
I hope India asks for advance payment before shipping the goods or in the case of imports, asks for the maal to be shipped before making payment.
@Sad but true: hahahah u indians should stop trying drive wedge beetween pak army and people indian political spending in afghanistan does not benefit pakistan rail ahahh employ millions ??? you making random statements with no facts to back them up
trade with india is part of american plan to force pakistan to accept indian hedgemony in region. India trade to pakistan is bad for pakistani economy, india is a bigger countries its industries are more well organized it will destroy pakistans economy. India has more poor than africa, the indian middle class is nothing more than $2000 a year,pak gains nothing from trade with india
@Everyone: We(India and Pakistan) have been egoistic for the past 60 years and wat have we achieved ? You guys lost East Pakistan and we have been fighting an invisible enemy. Why cant we for once keep our egos aside and co-operate with each other for 5 years, I am sure we can find a solution for all our issues, Kashmir, Floods, terrorism. And we need a starting point. Why cant economy for a change be the starting point. Like Pakistanis(who are against ties with India) there are scores of Indians who think economy with a "failing state" is useless, but think again, the US economy is hanging by the balance, European states are falling like dominoes, so why cant we look at each other. There is huge demand for cement, wheat and sugar in India, India can help Pakistan over come some issues. But all this can happen only when we keep our egos aside (atleast for 5 years). I think after that we can get back to fighting. We do need to use all the planes/missiles/bombs that we built up over the last 60 years. Wat say guys ?
@rehmat:India granted MFN status as early as 1996
@Zahid Khan looks like you write your own history books and read them again and again. and please read recent newspapers specifically after 2 May. world is becoming cry baby about pakistan. us, uk, europe, china, afghan. do you want me to send links about those shouts. naaah... it won't fit in this space.
btw the venom you have omitted, i feel sorry for you and pity you. RIP
@ Buttjee
Look, what happened in Gujrat is unacceptable. Any Pakistani OR Indian would be a fool to claim otherwise. However, all you're doing is our typical Pakistani mentality of pointing at others. Great, what about Qadri? What justice has been brought to the family of Salman Taseer? What has changed in Pakistan? We discriminate against minorities in our laws, not just in practice. So what?
Finding flaws in others does not make us better than them. We have plenty of flaws in Pakistan. I'm arguing we are actually more flawed because we do not have a truly free press, our middle class is extremely extremist, and we don't care about minorities one bit. Could you imagine a Hindu or Christian equivalent of Salman Khan, or Abdul Kalam, or Aziz Premji in Pakistan? Of course not.
@Freeman: Such a liar !! 300 million and that too Pakistan spending on someone else, dude they don't even spend that much on their own people, where would they get to spend 3 0 0 millions on others?? !! I am quite amused at your ignorance-is-bliss phenomenon.
@Howabout: How about per that exact resolution, Pakistan pulling back its military from Kashmir first. Kyun beta bolti bund?
Thats all what you expect from this Zardari lead govt.See what India is doing to Pakistan in Blochistan & FATA & we are hell bent giving them status of MFN.Why, can any one elaborate vis-a- vis statements of Zardari after becoming president?
@Zahid Khan: I don't think you had, or have, even an inkling of what I hinted in my post. Do you know how Kemal Ataturk solved the problems his maulvis and Imams were creating in Turkey? Go, talk to Turks! Pakistanis might not only find that educational but immensely practical. Heck, you could even google it yourself!
to Bipul "You are no one to decide that kashmiris leave their land to fulfill your desires. It’s their land and no Hindu have the right to tell them where to live and leave their land" I don't think Bipul is ordering Kashmiris to leave their land to fulfill any desires. They are welcome to stay on their ancestral land but it will be only under the Indian flag. There is no choice in that matter! Like it or not, India is preponderantly a Hindu country even if it does not behave like one! Israel continues to exist where it always existed - in the Jewish homeland - except for a brief (historically speaking) interregnum. Not only that! It is continuing to expand with a settlement coming up every time the Palestinians throw a tantrum.
@Tahir:
"We cannot out-rightly blame institutions in Pakistan for all the ills that happen in India e.g. Mumbai attacks. "
So you don't believe Pakistan had anything to do with the Mumbai attack? What universe do you live in? With people like you who live in denial Pakistan has no hope.
@Doctor:
"They have been far more sincere and honest"
YOU ARE SADLY MISTAKEN. Those of you who have lived in undivided India will tell you the truth behind sincerity and honesty. Only they can tell you the state of one's life when one is victim of prejudices. Even today, things have not changed. Narinder Modi, the man responsible for the massacre of Muslims in Gujrat, is enjoying his life without any punishment for his crime. People responsible for Samjhota Express burning have not been brought to justice. When ever there is an explosion in India, the Indian Police immediately starts arresting young Muslim, some of them well educated. They are tortured with third degree methods in order to extract confessions. Twenty young Muslim have recently been declared innocent and released after spending five years in jail. Their lives have been ruined.
These are the hard realities. But in spite of that I am a firm believer of peace between the two next door neighbours. People of both our countries deserve better living standard and new jobs. Both the countries have nuclear arsenals and it is the resposibility of the leaders of both the countries to keep the tempers under control and use their better senses to maintain peace. Trade relationship on reciprocal basis is again very important and should be encouraged.It is a real bad news.............................
Those who are insisting on 'Kashmir resolution' should remember without the MFN status there will be a veto on our garments export to EU and the export of onions and tomatoes from India to Pakistan will stop. Secondly it's still in 'Principal' nothing has been signed.
@Tauseef: While I agree that the two countries need to realign their priorities and focus on development and bringing prosperity to their people, I tend to disagree on your later comment. We cannot out-rightly blame institutions in Pakistan for all the ills that happen in India e.g. Mumbai attacks. The secret agencies around the world when engineer such covert undertakings, do not leave behind marks. Generally, as laymen we may not know who has been behind such adventures as there are competing and conflicting interests at stake. However, the party who emerges as the beneficiary generally, may be one of the prime suspects!
@Thomas:
If you cannot understand politics and have no knowlege of burning issues between India and Pakistan then you should not take part in the discussion. Your comment is a drawing room argument. We do not need your money but will get Kashmir, Siachen, Sircreek and our water INSHALLAH. THIS IS YOUR DESTINY.
@jeewaji khalistan, kashmir, mumbai attacks, parliament attack, proxy war... do you think these r small incidents... u must be kidding
This is a very good news which will certainly improve bilateral relations between the two countries. If India can do 60 billions worth of trade with its enemy number one China then why Pakistan cannot do the same with India. Moreover, Pakistanis would be able access quality goods at cheaper rates from India vis-a-vis China who dumps substandard goods to third world countries.
From comments above, it looks like most pakistanis do not understand trade. They would rather plead or demand things. Why is there a feeling that pakistan would be doing India a favour. India does not need Pakistan for anything, it is too insignificant in all other things other than terrorism
@hani: Read the comments below from Mr. Rehmat on MFN, don't bring your "Mullah" knowledge here..
MFN is just a cosmetic step. India has a lot of non custom barriers which are also a big impediment in improving bilateral trade. India should not expect that we grant them all the concessions while they use the other barriers to inhibit Pakistani goods from reaching indian consumers.
Its quid pro quo...!!
@haris: Nobody is asking for "friendship". This is trade we are talking about.
@Tony Singh: what do mullahs care about that;they dont have to negotiate with rest of the world for business,aid and loans;If it makes it difficult for poor politicians,it does not concerns mullahs;but government has to make sure that everybody including mullahs get fed ,and government goes on
india will honor the un resolutions on kashmir,but pakistan has to evacute the kashmir first as stipulated; fist thins first
To all those who oppose MFN to India : You have no choice. If you don't give this status you risk getting barred from WTO itself. Then the countries can (not will) impose higher tariffs on goods imported from Pakistan. Now does that help Pakistan?
Why all this favour to the enemy?? Nothing will change. Stop giving, start demanding justice.
@maqbool: Dear Maqbool - there is nothing most favored in MFN. All nations which are signatories to GATT (General Agreement on Trade and Tariff) are bound by the rules of GATT to grant MFN status to each other, i.e. they are not supposed to discriminate each other in trade. If Pakistan does not allow India MFN status, India can approach GATT (is it GATT or is there now a new body doing the same work?) for punitive action against Pakistan.
Pakistan should take care of its own back yard and not worry about India's MFN status. On the contrary Pakistan should focus on tremendously increasing its exports to the world. Pakistan has suffered huge losses economically due to it sticking its neck out as a front line state in the so called war on terror whereas India quitely watches and throws terrorist into Pakistan through the back door. Also huge losses caused by India by flooding the rivers into Pakistan. It is time for Pakistan to watch out for itself and its humanity!!
Pakistan needs to stand tall with dignity and stop offering anything to India unless and untill: UN resolution on Kashmir is honoured and Kashmiris are set free and India stops terrorist activities in Pakistan.
@Freeman:
A Kashmir solution will be unveiled shorty - which will be face saving for all. The role of all participants will be as follows:
1) Pakistan - since Pakistan has always maintained that it only concerned about the well being of the Kashmiri people, Pakistan will extend an open invitation to all those Indian Kashmiri's who wish to migrate to Pakistan.
2) India also gives permission to people to migrate to Pakistan without right of return.
3) India also gives permission to those Kashmiris who had migrated to Pakistan after a cutoff date to return to India.
4) Indian Kashmiri Islamists such as S.A.Gilani migrates to Pakistan, taking with himself all Islamists.
5) Indian Kashmiri Moderates join the Indian political system. ( Kashmiri moderates, if you go by wikileaks consider the likes of S.A.Gilani to be dangerous to everybody's well being ).
6) Peace prevails.
And for your information Kashmir is part of ancestral Hindu lands - and nobody is getting an inch more of it.
@maqbool:
where do people get all this false information;india dependent on usa for IT? 2/3 of the engineers and programmers in computers are indian.if indians were to leave ,the computer industry in usa will have to be shut down; about the wars etc anjum sethi ,the pakistani historian tells about what your history books are; a pack full of lies,.innuendos and false information;he says all the wars against india were started by pakistan ,and all were lost.go read some real history books and compare notes.no wonder that pakistani schools turn our fundamentlists and terrorists; the citizens of pakistan should force taxt-book board to give their kids the real information.
@Thomas: My dear time has changed now. Kashmiries will get freedom form Indian themselves.
We Paksitani's are not indias enemy but if Indians do not want to be friend of Pakistan then please stop begging Pakistan to grant you Most Favourite Nation.
@rehmat: If this si the case then why European Union do not give Pakistan these facilities. I do not thing Pakistan is bound to do that. Its all depends on Pakistan.
@Sad but true: Pakistan also spent $300 Million in Afghanistan development accroding to our own capacity. Only problem is Pakistan do not mention everywhere about it.
@Babloo: International Law does not bound Pakistan to grant India Most Favourite Nation for Business. Its depend on Pakistan's only.
While India does not want to resolve any disputes with Pakistan but is begging Pakistan to grant India MFN for the so many years.
1- Indian went to United Nation and promised to resolve Kashmir dispute and will give Kashmiries Right of self-reliance but they never kept their promise. Indian Always want Pakistan should do something but do not want itself to come forward and resolve serious and old issues.
2- Indian is keep buidling new Dams in indian Occupied Kashmir on the rivers Pakistani share of waters which Pakistan have a right according to sindh Taas Agreement.
We want to do business with india as indian is Pakistan's Niehbour. India need to put more efforts to resolve Kashmir and Water issues with Pakistan. It will help both countries to come close to each other.
Problem is even we start doing business now without resolving Kashmir Dispute then later this issue will be obstacle for both countries to keep up business freely.
If only MFN status was something magical that could actually influence the people and views of those who foam at the mouth if even the wind makes a sound that could be heard as "India" and appear to be quite determined to not have it any other way. They'll always have some theory that turns any positive events into something deceptive and hostile and I've yet to see one acknowledge even the remote possibility they're wrong as if you try to bring anything like that up you're automatically labeled as having some kind of involvement in the horrible plot.
@Niaz Hussain Shah:
India is going to give you Kashmir, Sircreek and siachin and may be a 100 billion dollars, right the way.!!!
@csmann: "Somebody in pakistan should get mullahs together and make them understand the economics of world-trade. but who will bell the cat?that is the dilemma" Ask your friend Turkey where Kemal Ataturk had a better idea. After that there was no problem with mullahs etc.
@Babloo: even if India had granted MFN status to Pakistan many years ago, still India closes all doors of negotiation or talks with Pakistan. Any small incident and India shuts its door. So in reality these things dont matter at all. Things will remain the same unless both nations hold each other's hand and become sincere in their approach.
How about India honoring UN resolution regarding Kashmir? First things first!!
@Mirza: What India as a MFN ia going to give Pakistan in return for. Is India going to stop supporting and aiding the Baloch separatists and criminals in Karachi involved in target killing, stop its proxy war against Pakistan via Pakistani Taliban. Above all, is India going to change its aggressive posture vis-a-vis Pakistan. They have just moved their top of line fighter bombers close to Pakistan border. This is abolutely a step in wrong direction if the above conditions are not met.
India has spent US$2Billion on Af over the last few years. It will still spend more on it. NO ONE CAN STOP THIS.
India has no opening to convey its good directly to Af. The best possible way for Pak is to ask India to buy goods from Pak (especially cement) and send it to Af. In this way, Pak stands to gain over 80% of whatever India spends on Af. Your railways will be back on track and thousands will be employed.
But there is a very big problem: whenever India and Pak come closer, the establishment interferes and cleans its dirty laundry in India.
@H.A. Khan: "Madame FM: yes grant MFN we are all for it but be mindful about the terms and conditions. it should be reciprocal".
India had given it to Pakistan in 2005. SO it is Pakistan that had failed to reciprocate. Also there are no terms and conditions that India and Pakistan have to specificaly agree to. MFN requirement applies to ALL WTO member countries (some 155 countries including India and Pak).
As I had mentioned earlier it simply means that the import conditions (which goods can be imported or not and at what custom duty) should be identical for ALL participating countries with one exception.if you have an FTA with some cuntry - yuo can provide preferential terms to that country.
@spaniard A trade is when what the customer wants to buy matches with what the seller wants to sell at a price. You cannot demand India sell/lease railway engines to Pakistan ! Can India demand Pakistan buy cement from us ?
In fact, India is unable to keep up with its own railway engine demand. India does sell/lease some engines to Bangladesh, Burma ( countries who do not have an official policy to sponsor terrorism against India ). There is a clue there.
"Most favored nation" is shorthand for "Pakistan will give India the same tariff and tax advantages as it gives the most favored nation." It doesn't mean India will be more favored, but that it will be treated the same as other nations, all of which customarily receive MFN status. The only countries denied MFN status are countries against whom Pakistan wishes to discriminate. I don't know if any remain except India. Pakistan intends to continue to prohibit trade in some products, but will shift to a prohibited list (a "negative" list) instead of allowing trade only in some products (a "positive" list), as it presently does.
@haris: "Friendship with india is not possible by overlooking the Kashmiri sacrifices"
WTO is not a club of friends. Pakistan and india do not need to be friends. As long as they are members of WTO, they need to provide MFN status to each other. India already has provided MFN status to Pakistan in 2005. Pakistan so far has been in breach of WTO regulations by denying India that MFN status.
This is in good direction. Actually this was unprinted part of recent trade agreement between the two, where as India agreed not to excercise it's veto power for pak's export to Europe.
We can resolve all our issues in friendly atmosphire without mutual suspicion.
Can someone enlighten me as to what Pakistan wants from the Kashmir - what are the issue and the sticking points please lay it out ins simple terms so I can explain it to the children I teach
Rehmat bhai, seemingly my english verbatim is not that good to convey my jazbats. What I wanted to say in so many words is, if you realy want to grow, you can do without MFN's. India has done well without the direct help of US and China. (Well may be am a liar, lot of IT in India is dependent on US, but that's because they can't do without us), Both were once more or less MFN's for Pakistan. India gave that status long back to PAK, but on the ground where it gets the most profit is it's MFN(US? yes for now they can't do without outsourcing IT to India). Let's say Pakistan grants this status, how much difference that makes? For Pakistan it would for sure! Read between the lines now.
Most favoured nation for the export of strategic assets.
Pakistan should re-think about its decision to grant Most Favoured Nation status to India. It looks like that political leaders have a short memory or they have some personal agenda. India has always treated Pakistan as an enemy and attacked Pakistan militarily and economically on various occasions. More than one hundred thousand innocent Kashmiris were brutally murdered by Indian Army. India waged wars against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. India divided Pakistan in 1971. Issue of Siachen, Sir Creek and building dams to stop our waters. India always creates a hindrance to international aid and developmental projects and label Pakistan as terrorist country. No doubt our top priority should be freedom of Kashmir. Kashmir is the core issue and all the doors of friendship passed through Kashmir. Trade with India is beneficial for them because they want to use Pakistani route to trade with Afghanistan and beyond. Indian Foreign Minister’s presence in Pakistani reception in New York is not a big deal. This is their way to flatter Pakistan. Ms. Foreign Minister Khar do not get flattered. India is not our superior or boss that one of their Ministers attends a reception and we jump over the moon so much so that we give them the status of Favoured Nation. Before giving India any status or route for trade with Afghanistan and beyond, India should first resolve Kashmir and other issues relating to Pakistan. On this issue where is the OPPOSITION especially Mian Nawaz Shareef. Mian sb should announce a long march against Government decision. Govt. should think again and again before bowing in front of India or its masters.
these people still think they are giving away something to india mullahs and their followers will make a hue and cry about this and that.they can because they dont have to do negotiations with other countries for trade,aid and loans .They can easily say,let it be,we dont care.But politicians have to keep pakistan going and feed the population.They dont have the luxury of ill-placed bravado and wait for the world to come and help them.Somebody in pakistan should get mullahs together and make them understand the economics of world-trade. but who will bell the cat?that is the dilemma
@Bipul Rajput: yes but the trains must go to Afghanistan and beyond otherwise let them rust in their hangars.
This announcement is just to please India. Otherwise, India has not moved an inch from its stance on Kashmir or ready to offer any other favors to Pakistan. Pakistan should have declared India a MFN when India gave this status to Pakistan. Today, India's position as a business giant is so strong that "such favors" from Pakistan are not needed any more.
@Tauseef: I agree with you. We have to stop playing war games like Kargil, Mumbai attack and likes. Let us keep the generals and their strategic assets in democratic control.
@Spaniard: Sir , we are struggling with our railways and our lunatic railway ministers. Indian Railways are short on wagons and locomotives but overstaffed. Indian railways are importing / assembling coaches and locomotives from Germany / Sweden and Japan. How can we spare some for Pakistan ?
We should welcome this decision provided all the follow up actions are taken on reciprocal basis. Their reciprocal actions will be judged when the two countries issue their negative lists and tariff regime for imports.
Madame FM: yes grant MFN we are all for it but be mindful about the terms and conditions. it should be reciprocal. Let there be free trade and investments. BUT be mindful about the fine print. How about barriers like custom certifications,negative lists.Do you re-call for how many days Pakistan Onions were embargoed in Mumbai port? and the reasons?
@maqbool: " don’t understand this concept of MFN" This is a legal term. It means that all countries that are part of WTO need to give identical trade terms to all other WTO participants. So if Pakistan has 15% custom duty for product A for China, it needs to have the same 15% for India. It cannot say that good A can be imported from China for 15% but customs duty for India is 20% or that good A cannot be imported from India at all. Currently most goods that can be imported from other countries is prohibited from India. This is against WTO rules. This is what India wants corrected.
Incidentally, India has granted MFN status to Pakistan since 2005.
Are we to guess what MFN status entails? Couldn't ET have included this important detail?
There is nothing new and meaningful in the justifications mentioned to grant MFN status to India. There must be some other reason for this timing. I think Pakistan feels isolated after Americans showed red eyes so this is an attempt to please India to stay impartial in this US-Pakistan love-hate game.
I don't understand this concept of MFN. Please enlighten me about it. Infact I don't understand 1,2,3,4... nation theories either. After the globalization whole world seems like one nation to me. If today, one gets a good offer, he can work/sell/buy anywhere in the world. Where is the nation? Genuine talent from Pakistan is giving indian artists a run for their money. Indian movies are the hot pick in Pakistan(though some hardcore patriots will bash me for this one for sure). China's manufactured products are everywhere in the world! God made the world, everything else these days is made in China. Where's the nation? Let's for once and all stop living in 1947. On paper when we say MFN it may still mean most frowned upon nation. :)
I think first india must stop terrorism in Pak then we think of granting any such thing.....
I have a win-win proposition to make. Since Pakistan Railways is almost dead, let Indian Railways operate trains on Pakistani tracks. That way India helps out Pakistan in its time of need AND India also can start laying out rail infrastructure to reach Central Asia.
@haris:
No one in India wants friendship with pakistan, so don't worry. And you can keep the big pot in the oven for Kashmi for another thousand years, just in vain.
Pakistan is like a decomposer country. India shoud not talk with Pakistan
As for UN plebescite its just sound byte while according MFN status and normal trade Which is akin to Pakistan saying no to Drone in principle as a sound byte and wink at americans.
@Babloo: @Tauseef: I agree with both of you 100%. We have no option but to move in a positive direction of friendship, mutual respect and equality with all neighbors especailly Inida. Whether we like it or not we were a part of India. Not too man parts of a body can live/survive without or away from the main body? In fact our parents and grandparents were all born Indian citizens whehter we live in Peshawar, Lahore, or Rawalpindi. Let us stop hate mongering which eating away our happiness and prosperity.
Thank God some sane decision are taking place. This is a second good news after asking military to follow constitutional norms by some brave parliamentarians. All we need is good economy without prejudice and that will be best defense for us. Put military expenses on leash and invest towards prosperity of common people. We do not have any neighbor enemies to protect borders, enemy is within and if our economy is strong and law and order prevails no other country can see with a bad intention towards us. We need good trade relations with India, China, Afghanistan, Iran and any other country to protect our own country.
Pakistan must establish better relationships with India, there is no doubt about that. This goes in favor of the citizens of the entire region. But I have a serious question. How can we stop repeating the damned Mumbai/Kargil incidents? I can't but praise India and the US efforts to come to table once again. It's a very dangerous game that our institutions are playing.
Friendship with india is not possible by overlooking the Kashmiri sacrifices
India granted MFN status to Pakistahn many years ago. Pakistan is required by laws that govern international trade , to grant India the same.
Now Pakistan says , it has decided to grant MFN status "in principle" ? Well that means nothing and is the diplomatic way to say that Pakistan will not grant MFN status to India in near future. Hope India is not taken for granted here.
brave girl...