The fact that Pakistan has refused to step forward in bilateral relations by rejecting the resumption of imports of sugar and cotton from India despite the approval of a government committee for them has already generated debate in the media. .
However, the U-turn presents an interesting twist. According to an exclusive document accessed by News18, it was Imran Khan who, as Commerce Minister, reviewed the Cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) recommendations in favor of limited resumption of trade ties with India on March 26. And it was none other than Khan, who, as prime minister, blocked the measure six days later.
“… The Cabinet ECC is requested to approve the following proposals,” the document says. He added that the importation of white sugar “can be allowed by TCP and the private sector” through “land and sea routes”, and that “commercial importers can also import 300,000 metric tons from India until June 30, 2006. “. 2021 based on the quota issued by the Ministry of Commerce … “
The document, dated March 26, says Khan saw the proposal. “The Honorable Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister in charge of trade has seen and authorized the presentation of the summary to the Cabinet CEC after adding criteria for the allocation of quota to commercial importers …”, he added.
But on Thursday (April 1), Khan, during a cabinet meeting, rejected the ECC’s recommendations, dealing a blow to hopes of gradual normalization of ties.
On Friday, he held a high-level meeting to discuss the future of bilateral relations, concluding that trade ties between neighboring countries cannot be resumed if New Delhi does not reinstate Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir. According to the sources, Khan added at this meeting that the reestablishment of trade ties would give a “wrong impression to the people of Kashmir.”
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who participated in the cabinet meeting and also in discussions on Friday, said that “relations between India and Pakistan can never become normal until India reconsiders its decision on 5 August 2019 of article 370 ”.
The development underscores that Pakistan’s deep state has once again prevailed by plunging a step forward in icy bilateral relations, even though the ice was thought to be melting after the two sides agreed to a ceasefire along the way. along the Line of Control (LoC) on February 25.
Sources in Pakistan say the country has faced a shortage of sugar and cotton, and that people are buying sugar at exorbitant prices. The resumption of imports from India could have helped lower prices and provide relief to the common man. But that hope also faded with Islamabad playing the Kashmir card.
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