The onus for resuming India-Pakistan trade falls with Islamabad, which unilaterally severed commercial ties in 2019, according to individuals with knowledge of the subject.
People said that India has not yet made a decision on delivering relief to Pakistan in the aftermath of disastrous floods in the neighbouring nation, but will evaluate requests from international organisations to ship aid across Indian territory.
Since Pakistan's finance minister Miftah Ismail said earlier this week that Islamabad could consider importing vegetables and food items from India to cope with shortages caused by the floods, which have killed more than 1,000 people and affected 33 million, the issues of trade and humanitarian aid have been in the spotlight.
However, the remarks made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a media briefing on Tuesday, which connected the resumption of commerce to the resolution of the Kashmir issue, did not go over well with the Indian side, according to individuals.
“The Pakistani side has taken a variety of positions on the question of trade. And when trade is tied to the Kashmir issue, what are you expecting us to do?” one of the individuals said.
People pointed out that Pakistan unilaterally froze commerce with India as part of a set of actions unveiled by Islamabad in reaction to New Delhi's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's Special Status in August 2019, and argued that Pakistan is also responsible for resuming trade.
Arindam Bagchi, the weekly media briefing spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was uncertain when asked about the subjects of humanitarian assistance and trade.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his sadness over the destruction caused by the floods that have struck Pakistan. You have observed his remarks. He has expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased, the injured, and everyone else afflicted by the natural disaster… Bagchi stated, “At this time, that is all I have to say on the aid issue.”
Regarding the trade element, there have been numerous statements made. At this time, I have nothing to contribute to the Pakistani assertions we have already heard,” he continued.
Bagchi reacted “quite speculatively” to a query about the possibility of India-Pakistan relations improving as a result of humanitarian aid.
On August 29, Modi expressed regret about the floods in a tweet. “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy,” he said. Sharif praised Modi in a Wednesday tweet for sending his sympathies for the flood-related human and material losses.“With their characteristic resilience the people of [Pakistan] shall, InshaAllah, overcome the adverse effects of this natural calamity & rebuild their lives and communities,” he said. Sharif stated on Tuesday, during a media briefing in Islamabad, that “there would not have been any issues with dealing with India, but genocide is occurring there and Kashmiris have been denied their rights.
He has also declared his willingness to “sit down and discuss with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We cannot afford war. We will have to devote our meagre resources to alleviating poverty in our separate nations, but we cannot live in peace until these problems are resolved.”
