NEW DELHI: Abdul Basit, Pakistans envoy in India, has expressed optimism about the future of relations between India and Pakistan, expressing the hope that the process of granting non-discriminatory market access (NDMA) to the country could begin, once both the sides resume talks.
Using Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis catchphrase he had used during his election campaign, Basit said, ache din aane waale hain, (Happy days are returning). The envoy further said, I have no reason to doubt for a moment that acche din aa rahe hain (good days are approaching) Let the bilateral engagement resume. Our two Prime Ministers have met and all the issues were discussed and we hope that things will be carried forward when the time comes.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the second edition of Aalishan Pakistan, an exhibition of Pakistani lifestyle brands in India, the Pakistani ambassador said people of both the countries have given a huge mandate to their respective leaders to create a better understanding between the two countries.
Basit said that the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Indian counterpart offered a fresh opportunity to revitalise the moribund peace process, which has been stalled since early 2013.
Bilateral trade talks have been suspended since last year following escalation in violence at the Line of Control. In 2012, Pakistan had committed itself to giving the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India but missed its own deadline, owing to domestic political pressure.
Highlighting last months meeting, Basit said that the leaders have articulated their shared vision for peace and development. However, he added that in an era of globalisation, the South Asian region was still stuck in an outdated narrative. It is an irony that while globalisation has transformed the world, lifted millions of people around the world from poverty, South Asia is stuck in an outdated and unhelpful narrative, Basit said.
Pakistan has to abolish the negative list of 1,209 tradable items. Abolishing the list of items that cannot be imported from India means the grant of NDMA status to the country. NDMA is a nomenclature chosen by the Pakistani government to avoid political ramifications at home in giving India the MFN status.
Bilateral trade between the countries stood at USD 2.6 billion in 2012-13. Indias main exports to Pakistan include sugar, man-made filaments and chemicals, while its imports comprise mineral fuels, among others.
Basit said the intra-SAARC trade is only 5 % of the regions total trade with rest of the world, while in the case of European Union, Asean and Latin America their trade share is higher.
He said growth and development of India and Pakistan will help eliminate poverty and reduce illiteracy in the region. On the forthcoming exhibition, Basit said that such events will complement the diplomatic side in enhancing understanding and creating more opportunities between the countries. He said, Such exhibitions would help in bringing our people together.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |