Foreign ministry spokesperson says necessary steps being taken to implement decision on granting MFN status to India. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan said on Thursday that it was committed to normalising trade relations with India, despite recent border clashes that had threatened to unravel the peace process between the two nuclear armed countries.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Moazzam Ali Khan told reporters that authorities were taking necessary steps to implement the decision on granting most favoured nation (MFN) status to India.
“The government remains committed to its decision to have normal trade relations with India and the concerned authorities have been instructed to take necessary steps to implement the decision,” Khan said.
His statement comes amid fears that the process of normalisation may come to a halt between Pakistan and India after recent tensions over the exchange of fire at the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.
The spokesperson described as “non-serious and ridiculous” recent reports that the Indian authorities distributed pamphlets among the people of occupied Kashmir to warn them of a possible nuclear war with Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2013.
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@Clear Black Bag: Well sir, choice is yours. Best of luck.
@Clear Black Bag: To quote Attar of Nishapur, and this, too shall pass. Mark these words.
@JSM: But besides these things sent thru legally and lawfully or smuggled in Pakistan thru any means and doesn't mean that we shall never forget Kashmir and our innocent and sinless Kashmiri muslim brothers and sisters whose have been targeted/killed/martyred by the barbarians,brutal,cruel and wild beasts Indian troops and these Indian items in Pakistan can never coerce us to build strong,stable,permanent and durable comradeship with India sans resolving burning,core,long-awaited and long-standing Kashmir issue......
@Clear Black Bag: @Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
Today, Pakistan gets Indian goods through third countries. With direct trade between India and Pakistan, the Indian goods will become cheaper and it is possible that a common man in Pakistan may benefit. However many in Pakistan would like to cut their nose to spite the face. India however does not have much to gain from trade with Pakistan. Items like Indian tea, spices, auto parts, consumer and light engineering goods, tires and transport equipment, entertainment, healthcare, information technology, and pharmaceuticals are brought into Pakistan. Many of these are used by common man in day to day existence. These Indian goods come to Pakistan via third countries at 2 to 3 times their normal price. India gets dry fruits, gems, fish, marbles, onyx and textiles from Paksitan. Most of these items are not for used for day to day life and the rich who can pay can buy these anywhere at any price to meet their needs. It is for you to decide whether you want trade with India are not.
How shamefully and awfully Pakistani leaders are dying for making better trade relations with India besides seeing and knowing all the hazardous,harmful and dangerous inner intentions,objectives and motives of India for Pakistan most especially importantly the long-standing,long-awaited,burning and core Kashmir and LoC's issues.......
Are we only going to improve trade relations with India to buy and sell bullets?
I don't thing that is the right time to give India the give 'MFN' status to India, unless the Kashmir dispute is resolved with India.
One bullet fired from across the border will completely spoil the trade relations with India.
In my opinion, people who talk about 'Amn Ki Asha' from both sides of across the borders are living a fool's paradise.