Will Pakistan start trade with India again? Big hints are hidden on the cleanliness given by the Shahbaz government.

India Pakistan Trade:

The Shahbaz Sharif government of Pakistan has given clarification on starting trade with India. The Government of Pakistan said that there has been no change in the policy of not starting trade with India. The Shahbaz government also said that the Imran government had invited applications to appoint the trade minister in New Delhi.

Highlights

• Controversy erupts over Shahbaz government nominating trade minister for India in New Delhi
• This move of Shahbaz Sharif was considered to be the exact opposite of Imran Khan's India policy.
• The Government of Pakistan has clarified that there has been no change in the policy of trade with India.

Islamabad: 

Controversy has erupted in Pakistan over the Shahbaz Sharif government's nominating trade minister for India in New Delhi. This move of Shahbaz Sharif was considered to be the exact opposite of Imran Khan's India policy. Speculations also started that the Pakistan government might resume bilateral trade with India, which was closed after the abrogation of Kashmir's special status. Now the new government of Pakistan has clarified that there has been no change in the policy of trade with India. At the same time, it was also said that the application for this appointment was invited by the Imran government, the Shahbaz government has only made the appointment.

In its clarification, Shahbaz Sarkar said that this post has been in New Delhi for more than two decades. The Government of Pakistan should give any clarification, but this decision is being seen as a big development in terms of the serious economic condition of the country. It is also being seen as a major deal by Islamabad and a retreat from its previous stance against India after August 5, 2019. In a federal cabinet meeting, chaired by Shahbaz Sharif, it was decided that Pakistan would work towards reopening trade with India and appointed Qamar Zamar Kaira of the Pakistan People's Party at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi for the task. to be appointed as Minister.

Imran Khan downgrades diplomatic ties with India

In addition, similar trade officials and ministers are being nominated in at least 15 countries to enhance trade ties and agreements with their respective countries. The decision to resume trade with India is a difficult decision that Shehbaz Sharif has taken as former Prime Minister Imran Khan has re-established India's position after the Modi government abrogated Article 370 of its constitution and changed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Trade with was stopped. Imran Khan also downgraded diplomatic relations with India and asked the then Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad to leave the country.

Earlier, the same recommendation to resume trade with India was rejected by the then Prime Minister Imran Khan till the resumption of special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The present decision has drawn severe criticism from analysts and the public at large, who have accused the Shahbaz Sharif government of compromising Pakistan's interests and damaging the hopes of the people of Kashmir. Senior journalist and analyst Nazim Zehra said, "Any step taken by the Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif-led government in the direction of trade with India will not only unsettle Kashmiris, but will also mark the beginning of a soft surrender to Indian hegemony."

Shahbaz Sharif is not expected

to get any political help from this decision. However, it has certainly given a new point for former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has slammed Shehbaz Sharif for bowing down to India and coming back to the country's policy, agreed after August 5, 2019. Pakistan's economic situation is heading towards a recession, which is accompanied by dire demands for the revival of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) $6 billion line of credit.

On the other hand, according to the report of the Pakistani newspaper Express Tribune, the behind-the-scenes relations of the Pakistan government with India started from the time of Imran Khan. Imran Khan at one time gave partial approval to trade with India and allowed the import of sugar and cotton under the same policy. However, this decision was not approved by the Pakistani cabinet due to fear of public anger. Analysts say that given the instability in Pakistan's politics, there is little hope of any clear change in relations with India till the elections are held.