Pakistan’s Trade Ties Review with India

Context

Recently, Pakistan is considering resuming trade with India which suggests a shift in diplomatic relations with India. However, the prevailing political tensions and border issues may produce restrictions and hindrance in it.

More about the issue

• On this issue of Pakistan’s Trade Ties Review with India, the foreign minister was of the view that Pakistan wants to resume trade operations with India. This statement shows that there are possibilities which exist in the range of defrosting of trade ties between Pakistan and India. Sharing that the EU side will subject the trade matters with India to a deep analysis was indicated by Dar. The president’s statement may signify that there would be a different dynamic in the approach to diplomacy if it involves India.
• Pressurized by India’s decision to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution that proclaimed the former status of Jammu and Kashmir and thereby segregated the state into two Union Territories, Pakistan also cut the tie of diplomacy with India. Per Islamabad, the decision, which worsened the atmosphere for the discussion between the two countries’ envoys, was humiliating and obstructed the dialogue process. It is unclear as to whether we will be able to trade with India or not since we have some disagreements made by various parties involved on whether the two countries will restore their trade or not, according to sources in Express Tribune. Opinions are divided among stakeholders, even including the staff of the Foreign Service, who sometimes differ on the relocation idea that is not unknown.
• Though some people submit to Pakistan’s stand off with India that it won’t normalise relations without essentially reciprocated concessions; many believe Pakistan should follow China’s suit when it comes to trade ties maintenance despite border disputes and unsatisfactory relations with India in particular. This gen Qamar Javed Bajwa was formerly an army chief in his sovereign state of Pakistan and aimed to improve the Pakistan-Indian relations. However, his successor’s view on the controversial issue is not yet clear. Dar’s statement about opening the political ties might have got the go-ahead permission of the higher authorities. For the pro trade with India group, the agreement may prove to be an instrument to revive Pakistan’s failing economy. As per a study carried out by an international investment agency, Pakistani-Indian trade has a large potential and may reach several comparable figures of more than twenty-five billion dollars.
• Governments, on their part, remain sceptical about the future scenario. Editing is among the key writing stuff that entail including removing errors through sentence review, fixes, and enhancements meant to improve the flow of ideas, conciseness, and overall meaning of a sentence. It includes discovering and rectifying mistakes of different types: in grammar, punctuation, syntax or wrong-structure of sentences which is important in the reading process. The Foreign Office submission would require Pakistanis to be patient in a way that it not only looks forward to the ongoing elections in India but it should also calmly wait until both countries move past the elections and the next president takes the office which is expected to be in April or May this year. Russia’s success or failure in the parliamentary elections will be unveiled by the time a new government is installed in New Delhi, with all the capital being redone in May. Pakistan has continuously pointed that the matter purely lies on India and India should be the one to recognize its steps and undo them and put the conflicting table in its place.
• India has been seemingly selfish in the rejection of this proposal and has had several occasions to state so clearly that Jammu and Kashmir, and in Ladakh, are an integral part of India. However, nullifying such announcements made by the Indian Government claiming that policies adopted for the development of social and economic sphere, within the borders of the J&K territory is solely taking of the sovereign power.

Conclusion

• The fact that Pakistan has regarded the trade relations with India as one of the factors that may contribute to the diplomatic realignment, seen in the context of existing political tensions and border problems can be perceived as a sign of a new will to seek normalisation of relations. Even though many people have different views on this matter and an unpredictable outcome from restarting trade may be anticipated, however, this opportunity entails both difficulties and potentials for trade and economic growth.

Source: The Indian Express

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Examine the prospects and challenges associated with Pakistan’s contemplation of reviving trade ties with India. Analyse the factors influencing this potential diplomatic shift, including political tensions, border disputes, and internal divisions. Assess the implications of such a decision on regional relations and economic growth.

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