Islamabad: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has conveyed that commercial interactions between Islamabad and New Delhi have been in abeyance since 2019, attributable to India’s imposition of ‘exorbitant levies’ on Pakistani imports subsequent to the Pulwama incident.
In a documented rejoinder submitted to the National Assembly on Saturday, Dar, who concurrently serves as the deputy prime minister, stated: “India instituted a 200 percent tariff on Pakistani imports, suspended the Kashmir bus service, and halted trade across the Line of Control post the Pulwama attack.”
As per the Dawn newspaper, Dar’s remarks were in response to an inquiry by Pakistan Peoples Party legislator Sharmila Faruqui, who sought elucidation on the trade impediments encountered by Pakistan in its dealings with neighboring nations, particularly India.
In March, during a press briefing in London, Dar underscored the fervor of Pakistan’s business sector to reinvigorate trade with India. Nonetheless, his office subsequently clarified that Pakistan has no intention to reinstate trade relations with India, which have been “defunct” since 2019.
Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic engagement with India following the Indian Parliament’s revocation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, a maneuver Islamabad contends has vitiated the milieu for bilateral dialogue.
“We have perpetually endorsed constructive engagement and outcome-focused discourse to resolve all extant issues, including the pivotal matter of Jammu and Kashmir with India…,” Dar asserted on Saturday.
The foreign minister articulated that the impetus is now on Delhi to undertake measures that foster an environment amenable to peace and dialogue. India has consistently maintained that it seeks normal neighborly relations with Pakistan while asserting that the responsibility lies with Islamabad to cultivate an ambiance devoid of terror and hostility to facilitate such engagement.
Islamabad and New Delhi share a protracted history of contentious relations, predominantly due to the Kashmir dispute and cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.