Aziz rakes up Kashmir at Indo-Pak CEOs forum

While addressing a gathering during the launch of India-Pakistan CEOs business forum, the High Commissioner of Pakistan to India Aziz Ahmed Khan said that “relations between India and Pakistan remain bedevilled by deep routed suspicion and distrust. One single issue that has influenced our relations for over half a century is the non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Failure to address this most critical issue is the main reason for the state of cooperation and relations as they exist today.” However, India still feels that economic relations can be improved. Later, on the sidelines, the Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said that “what we are trying to do is that political differences should not be allowed to overwhelm economic relations and there is a strong possibility of improving trade despite political differences between India and Pakistan.

While appreciating the peace initiatives taken by the Indian Prime Minister in April this year and response of Pakistani counterpart, Khan said that “after five months all these hopes and expectations remain unrealised”.

Though Khan emphasised on the fact that “economic cooperation between countries cannot flourish in isolation and vacuum hence sound communication links and level playing field are two paramount requirements for any sustainable economic cooperation, adding that “unless rail, road and air links are fully operational, any meaningful economic cooperation will remain elusive despite our best intentions.”

Earlier in his speech Sinha gave an appropriate answer to Khan’s observations by saying that “despite ups and downs in India-Pakistan relations, India has continued to extend the most favoured nation (MFN) treatment to Pakistan and naturally, it is our hope that Pakistan, will also sooner rather than later, give India the MFN treatment and remove all non-tariff barriers.”

Though Sinha outlined the positive steps taken since April this year, he also used the opportunity to express disappointment over first round of civil aviation talks being less productive and denial of visa to a tea trade delegation and a team of jurists to visit Pakistan.

Sinha also clarified that “India has no intention or desire to be Pakistan centric in our policies. At the same time, we hope that Pakistan will also succeed in shedding its obsession with India. For example, the practice of turning every international and multilateral forum into a battleground to attach each other should end.”

However, while talking informally to the newspersons later, Khan reiterated that Kashmir is an international issue and we will keep on raising in the multilateral forums.

The Forum’s launch was a highly romanticised occasion for a group of businessmen from both sides of the Radcliffe line dividing India and Pakistan since 1947. The Forum which is initiated by CII from Indian side and Young Presidents’ Organisation from Pakistan side, headed by Amin Hashwani, was second major initiative from the industry of both the countries. Before this, Ficci has started similar initiative with Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Ficci received a larger delegation at Wagah only two months back. The Forum’s objective include enhancing networking opportunities, facilitate relationship building, engagement and information sharing, improve discussions on policy and procedures and increase trade and investment promotion. The delegation is also accompanied by their spouses.