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Outrage in Pakistan at FICCI report

ISLAMABAD: A report by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry recommending a series of extreme steps against Pakistan such as surgical strikes, “deniable” covert actions by India in Pakistani territory and blocking imports in the event of another Mumbai-type terrorist attack has caused outrage here.

The Foreign Ministry said it had noted the report, titled Task Force Report on National Security and Terrorism, “with deep concern.”

In a statement, it said that “such views are unhelpful to the cause of peace in South Asia.” It also expressed regret that FICCI had allowed itself to be carried away by “the tide of opportunistic propaganda.”

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry went a step further and said it was suspending all trade delegations to India until the resumption of the composite dialogue process.

The chamber, which met on Thursday to discuss the report, asked all Pakistani businessmen to stop travelling to India.

The meeting also criticised the composition of the task force that prepared the FICCI report. The task force included retired military and intelligence officials.

According to a report in the Dawn, the meeting concluded that FICCI’s name had been used by the Indian security establishment “for ulterior motives,” and noted that the report was “bound to create hostility and spell disaster of unimaginable magnitude between Pakistan and India. This is the height of irresponsibility and immaturity.”

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