Pakistan takes a U-turn on trade ties with India; reverses decision approved by Imran Khan

In a major U-turn on Thursday, Pakistan Cabinet rejected proposal of Ecomic Coordination Committee to import sugar, cotton and yarn from India. According to Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, this decision was deferred until India restores Article 370 of Constitution, which guaranteed special status for Jammu and Kashmir. Escalating matters furr, Pakistan Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari linked abrogation of Article 370 to rmalization of relations with India. 

Maintaining that Cabinet was unwilling to approve tre ties with India, she quoted Pakistan PM Imran Khan as saying that re can be rmalization of relations until Parliament's steps pertaining to Jammu and Kashmir are reversed.  neighbouring country's move has raised eyebrows as Khan is also in-charge of Ministry of Commerce and Textiles, which approved  summaries for import for cotton, sugar, and yarn to be placed before ECC for clearance. This implies that PTI chairman was in favour of lifting ban on import of se items from India.

dressing a press briefing a day earlier, newly appointed Pakistan Finance Minister Hamm Azhar anunced that his country h decided to resume import of sugar, cotton and yarn from India through land and sea routes. Explaining rationale for this move, Azhar stated that price of sugar in India was much cheaper than in Pakistan reby allowing commercial import of 5,00,000 tonnes of white sugar. Moreover, he ded that import of cotton and yarn would facilitate small textile industries in country. Pakistani media quoted him as saying that se decisions were "in interest of people". 

Thaw in bilateral ties

Pakistan government's latest move comes on background of a thaw in relationship between two countries. For instance, Imran Khan called for resolving differences with India via dialogue. This was during his maiden visit to Sri Lanka where he dressed Pakistan-Sri Lanka Tre and Investment Conference on February 24. Claiming that he h unsuccessfully attempted to diffuse tensions in bilateral relationship after assuming power in 2018, he stressed need to improve tring ties with India. In a joint statement issued a day later,  Director Generals of Military Operations of both countries agreed to strictly observe all agreements and stop firing from February 25. 

However, Indian Army affirmed that it remains vigilant in wake of relentless ceasefire violations by Pakistan in past. This will also t impact counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Softening brash tone furr, Imran Khan told participants at recently held Islamab Security Dialogue that India can benefit from more tre and connectivity to Central Asia if both nations resolve ir issues. Speaking at same event, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa stressed that it is time to bury past and move forward.