The Hindu : Trade promotion after resolving political issues, says Pak.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 09, 2003

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Trade promotion after resolving political issues, says Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD May 8. As the suspense on the question of over-flight facilities and controversy over the 78 additional items added by Pakistan in the India import list continues, the Pakistan Commerce Minister, Humyaun Akhtar, has asserted that Pakistan and India could exploit their `trade potential' only after resolution of political issues.

Speaking at a luncheon hosted in his honour by the London Chambers of Commerce and Industry here today, he said the promotion of commercial relations between two countries were linked with progress on the political issues.

Comments of the Minister came even as there was no effort by Pakistan to clear the air on the issue of over-flight facilities and 78 items put on the `positive list' ostensibly to further the SAARC process. The External Affairs Ministry spokesman on Wednesday had said that India expected a clarification on both the issues.

In the aftermath of the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack, India had not only snapped air links but also suspended over-flight facilities to Pakistani aircraft. Islamabad reciprocated the measures and ever since the air space of each other's country is not available.

In June last year, India said it was willing to lift the ban on over-flight facilities on a reciprocal basis.

However, the suggestion was turned down by Pakistan on the ground that it was `self-serving and deceptive.' The argument here was that many more Indian flights were affected on account of the ban than the Pakistani aircraft.

Efforts to get a clarification from the Pakistani authorities proved to be futile. It appeared no one from the Government had got in touch with the Indian High Commission either.

Mr. Akthar, who is an ardent advocate of resolution of the Kashmir issue before trade relations, was believed to be at loggerheads with the Foreign Ministry some months ago on the question whether or not Pakistan should send a delegation to participate in the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) talks at Kathmandu. Ultimately the Foreign Ministry prevailed.

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