Foreign Office denies plans to restore trade ties amidst conflicting statements

In a conflicting turn of events, Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced on Thursday that there are no plans to restore trade ties with India, contradicting earlier remarks made by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hinting at a potential shift in diplomatic stance.

The controversy arose after Dar, during a press conference in London on March 23, suggested that Pakistan’s business community was keen on resuming trade activities with India. However, the Foreign Office spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, clarified during the weekly briefing that there has been no change in Pakistan’s position regarding trade relations with India.

The U-turn on trade ties is not unprecedented for Islamabad. Previously, in April 2021, Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee had approved imports of cotton and sugar from India, only for Prime Minister Imran Khan to block the move the following day, citing unfavourable circumstances.

Khan’s concerns reportedly revolved around sending a wrong signal to the world about Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir, with the Prime Minister insisting that normalizing relations with India was contingent upon Kashmiris being granted the right to self-determination.

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after India revoked Article 370, prompting Islamabad to argue that the move hindered prospects for bilateral talks. Pakistan has consistently urged India to reverse its unilateral actions in Kashmir as a prerequisite for dialogue.

In response, India has asserted that the constitutional measures taken in Jammu and Kashmir are internal matters and emphasized the need for Pakistan to create a conducive environment free from terrorism and hostility for constructive engagement. Despite periodic diplomatic fluctuations, both countries have expressed a desire for normalized relations, albeit with differing conditions and expectations.