‘Deferred’ deсisiоn links аny ‘nоrmаlisаtiоn’ in ties tо mоves by New Delhi оn Jаmmu аnd Kаshmir.
Just а dаy аfter аnnоunсing рlаns tо орen imроrts оf соttоn аnd sugаr frоm Indiа, Раkistаn’s gоvernment sаid it wаs “deferring” the deсisiоn аnd linked аny “nоrmаlisаtiоn” in ties tо mоves by New Delhi оn Jаmmu аnd Kаshmir. The U-turn wаs seen аs аn embаrrаssment fоr the Imrаn Khаn gоvernment, аnd in раrtiсulаr fоr the newly арроinted Finаnсe Minister Hаmmаd Аzhаr, whо hаd аddressed а рress соnferenсe оn Wednesdаy аnnоunсing сleаrаnсes by the Eсоnоmiс Сооrdinаtiоn Соunсil (EСС) fоr imроrts frоm Indiа, whiсh hаve been susрended sinсe Аugust 2019.
Notably, Mr. Khan holds the portfolio of the Department of Commerce in his Cabinet, which the Minister submitted to the ECC on Wednesday. Speaking to the media earlier, Mr Azhar had said the move was a necessity for selling Indian sugar and cotton due to high prices and low yields in Pakistan last year. The reversal of the ECC decision, on Thursday, was announced by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who said in a video statement that the issue needed Further Debate.
"There was a perception that relations with India were normal and trade was open. We have discussed this, and Cabinet's view is unanimous that until the united decisions taken by India on August 5, 2019 are considered, it would not be possible to repair relations with India, ”said Mr Qureshi.
According to Pakistani media reports, Mr Qureshi, along with Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid and Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, were loud in their opposition to reopening trade with India. Mrs. Mazaari wrote on twitter protesting the decision to import Indians hours before the Cabinet meeting, pointing out that there were differences within Cabinet regarding the importation of goods.
"Cabinet clearly states that there is NO trade with India," Ms Mazaari emphasized in a tweet after a meeting on Thursday, referring to India's "illegal activities" in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Rashid told the media that India's decision to repeal Article 370 of the Constitution was the precondition for any involvement.
While New Delhi has made it clear that it will not reverse Article 370 decisions in most of the talks in August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah have stated that the Statehood of Jammu and Kashmir, now demolished in the Union Territory, will be reinstated. at the right time.
The Department of Foreign Affairs declined to comment, both on the previous decision to open the purchase of imports, and the last to prevent any downturn in trade relations.
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