No Cotton and Sugar for Pakistan from India

The Cabinet of Pakistan has put on hold the import of Cotton and sugar from India until its neighbor reviews a 2019 move to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir.

 

Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the imports from  its neighbor but now it may never happen or may take some time before indan Sugar and cotton arrives in Pakistan.

 

“There was a debate [in the Cabinet], and I tell you, a majority isn’t in favour that we start trade with India without talking about the Kashmir issue,” a source told the Reuters news agency on condition of anonymity.

 

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government has been battling rising inflation in recent months, and the opening of trade with India was seen likely to help ease the pressure on some basic commodities. However the thorny political rivalry is obstructing trade.

 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had written that “India desires cordial relations with the people of Pakistan.”

 

Indian and Pakistani prime ministers exchanged letters last week, with  Imran Khan saying his country “desire[s] peaceful, cooperative relations with all neighbors, including India”.

 

The Cabinet of Pakistan wants   its neighbor to review a 2019 move to revoke the special status of Indian-administered Kashmir.