Despite tension, India eyes trade with Pakistan

[Devil Soul]

Despite tension, India eyes trade with Pakistan
By: The Nation Monitoring | March 16, 2013
WASHINGTON - Despite a spike in tensions between South Asia’s nuclear rivals, India’s envoy to Washington said Friday her country wants closer trade ties with Pakistan.
Nirupama Rao also said that overland trade from war-battered Afghanistan to India via Pakistan would be a boon to regional stability, reported a private TV channel, quoting a foreign news agency.
Her comments at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank come despite a fraying in recently improved relations between the two neighbours that was driven by the mutual benefit they can get from more commerce.
Rao did not directly address the current tensions but said whatever their differences, India and Pakistan cannot ignore the fact they are close neighbours. She said it was ‘very encouraging’ that Pakistani businessmen in particular have a great desire to open trade with India. Much of the current trade goes through third-countries or illegal channels.
“Pakistan has assured us that it’s going to provide MFN status to India. We are waiting for that decision to be announced formally and implemented. That will certainly boost confidence and clear the way for closer trade ties,” Rao said.
The ambassador also made a pitch for the prospect of more trade from Afghanistan, which has itself been a source of India-Pakistan dispute as the two countries have vied for influence in the region.
Rao said Afghanistan is a potential trade hub linking Central and South Asia. “We have to ensure Afghanistan can fulfil that role for its own stability and well-being and our well-being in the region. Transit and trade for Afghanistan through Pakistan into India is important in that context,” she said.

 

[Matrixx]

Congress govt is totally Zardari........both are going to loose election...Once BJP comes to power, they will ensure no trade with Pakistan...so dont worry ..wait till 2014....

 

[airmarshal]

No trade with India and no overland access to Afghanistan if Indian attitude does not change. By all accounts, the arrogance of Indian policy makers towards Pakistan will not change so there is no need for trade either.

After all, why should Pakistan seek to benefit India when does India not even want to talk, to play sport and let movement of people across the border?

 

[Bang Galore]

No trade with India and no overland access to Afghanistan if Indian attitude does not change. By all accounts, the arrogance of Indian policy makers towards Pakistan will not change so there is no need for trade either.

After all, why should Pakistan seek to benefit India when does India not even want to talk, to play sport and let movement of people across the border?

There is no overland access to Afghanistan being given, no trade suits us fine. It is not like Pakistan has anything(including money) that India desperately needs.

 

[mehboobkz]

No trade with India and no overland access to Afghanistan if Indian attitude does not change. By all accounts, the arrogance of Indian policy makers towards Pakistan will not change so there is no need for trade either.

After all, why should Pakistan seek to benefit India when does India not even want to talk, to play sport and let movement of people across the border?

Why you people are buying Indian stuff through Dubai and loose money instead? something that would have come cheaper via Wagah?

So who is loosing now?

 

[Emmie]

Poor coordination between ministry of foreign affairs and the envoy! Miss Rao needs to be briefed on recent developments, such statements will disappoint Indians big time..

 

[Devil Soul]

Why you people are buying Indian stuff through Dubai and loose money instead? something that would have come cheaper via Wagah?

So who is loosing now?

Now that over exaggerated statement...

 

[mehboobkz]

Now that over exaggerated statement...

http://www.defence.pk/forums/econom...kistan-imports-3b-indian-goods-via-dubai.html

Refresh yr memory boy!

 

[OrionHunter]

I think we should divest politics from trade. The darn politicos on both sides will always try and score brownie points to pander to their constituencies with an eye on elections. It's all about - 'kissa kursi ka'!

I think trade between both countries and confidence building measures are the only way forward. After all, the future is in trade not only with Pakistan but also Afghanistan and the Central Asian Republics through Pakistan/Afghanistan. All three countries as well as the CIS Republics stand to gain immensely. It would be a win-win situation for all stakeholders.

However, we need to tone down the rhetoric on both sides.

 

[johnny boy]

trade and politics is separate and should be separated....if britain and Usa could trade during the US war of Independence then i see no reason why we cant do the same.

 

[Devil Soul]

http://www.defence.pk/forums/econom...kistan-imports-3b-indian-goods-via-dubai.html

Refresh yr memory boy!

Thanks for refreshing my memory BOY ... & i admit that i misunderstood you... i was talking keeping in mind people who r working & living in Dubai....

 

[jbond197]

Why stop the trade? For growing India faster, India needs to do trade with whom ever possible.. More Export, more money, more jobs will ultimately result in more funds for defence and more bullets for the terrorists.. So it works out well for us so why should we even bother stopping it???

 

[Ayush]

pure economics.

 

[Kaniska]

Despite tension, India eyes trade with Pakistan
By: The Nation Monitoring | March 16, 2013
WASHINGTON - Despite a spike in tensions between South Asia’s nuclear rivals, India’s envoy to Washington said Friday her country wants closer trade ties with Pakistan.
Nirupama Rao also said that overland trade from war-battered Afghanistan to India via Pakistan would be a boon to regional stability, reported a private TV channel, quoting a foreign news agency.
Her comments at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank come despite a fraying in recently improved relations between the two neighbours that was driven by the mutual benefit they can get from more commerce.
Rao did not directly address the current tensions but said whatever their differences, India and Pakistan cannot ignore the fact they are close neighbours. She said it was ‘very encouraging’ that Pakistani businessmen in particular have a great desire to open trade with India. Much of the current trade goes through third-countries or illegal channels.
“Pakistan has assured us that it’s going to provide MFN status to India. We are waiting for that decision to be announced formally and implemented. That will certainly boost confidence and clear the way for closer trade ties,” Rao said.
The ambassador also made a pitch for the prospect of more trade from Afghanistan, which has itself been a source of India-Pakistan dispute as the two countries have vied for influence in the region.
Rao said Afghanistan is a potential trade hub linking Central and South Asia. “We have to ensure Afghanistan can fulfil that role for its own stability and well-being and our well-being in the region. Transit and trade for Afghanistan through Pakistan into India is important in that context,” she said.

This is a hugely incorrect idea...If US and Soviets can do bussiness with each other at the height of Cold war time, then at least i still feel that India and Pakistan and our enemity has not reached to that level so that we stop doing trade with each other.
We have to remember that with the continiuation of trade, we are not helping any one except us Indian only. So why to stop something that gives us a source of revenue.