London, March 24: Pakistan’s newly elected Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed “serious intent” of his government to reconsider trade relations with India, a move that would be crucial in a policy and position change since August 2019, when Islamabad suspended trade relations in response to New Delhi’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A and revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status
At a press appearance in London for the Nuclear Energy Summit, the Pakistani Foreign Minister made his first and most important speech on India.
Dar noted Pakistan’s business community’s desire in reviving commerce with India, suggesting Islamabad’s potential and dramatic change in diplomatic policy toward its archrival and neighbor.
“We will seriously look into matters of trade with India,” he remarked when asked about Pakistan-India ties.
Dar’s comments may be part of the new government’s five-year plan to create trade and commercial corridors with India and revive Pakistan’s economy.
Dar said that the Imran Khan-led government’s bad decisions put Pakistan on the brink of economic collapse, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 16-month government compromised its political gains and made unpopular decisions to save the country.
“Our government would implement a five-year road map to put Pakistan on the road to economic progress and bring down inflation to ease the common man’s economic difficulties,” he added.
Pakistan’s new administration under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appears focused on the country’s main problem and willing to interact with significant neighbors like India.
Dar’s comment comes as India prepares for elections, and all political candidates will likely concentrate on Pakistan.
Pakistan is sending a policy-based proposal to revive engagement between the two countries, but India has been clear that it wants Pakistan to act against extremist terror elements that have carried out terror attacks in India.
India has repeatedly asserted that Pakistan has not done enough to prevent terrorism but has done everything to protect anti-India organizations, persons, and elements on its land, making it the top priority for any interaction between the two nations.
