-Foreign Office rules out changes in Trade policy with India due to barbaric actions in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Office on Thursday once again rejected any change in trade policy for India after the new government took charge in Pakistan and said that Pakistan wanted peaceful relations with India and its other neighbouring countries.
Foreign Office Spokesman Asim Iftikhar said that talks with India were suspended after illegal Indian measures in Occupied Kashmir and now the responsibility lies with India to create a suitable environment for renewed talks.
“The commerce ministry has also issued a clarification over a news report and there is currently no change in policy with regard to trade ties with India,” he said while speaking during a weekly briefing at the Foreign Office.
The foreign office expressed concern over the rising trend of Hindutva in India and said that Indian forces have even imposed a ban on congregational prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar. “The Indian government is committing barbaric acts and should rather focus on safeguarding rights of minorities.”
The spokesman further said that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto also held a virtual meeting with his Chinese counterpart and discussed CPEC projects and the security of Chinese citizens. “The two foreign ministers also condemned terrorism in Karachi University,” he said.
The spokesman further expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and property in Afghanistan owing to floods and shared that Pakistan has sent relief goods for the affected people.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have spiked since New Delhi abrogated the Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019.
India’s decision evoked strong reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy. Pakistan also halted bilateral trade with India.
India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of the Article 370 was its internal matter. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda.
India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence.
