ISLAMABAD, 2 April, 2021 (TON): After a political backlash against Pakistan’s move on lifting the ban on sugar, wheat, and cotton import from India, the country has made a swift u-turn in its plan.

The politicians criticized Wednesday’s move in compliance with the apparent thaw in relations with India.

After Finance Minister Hammad Azhar said that the government made the decision in the interest of the people, the Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told reporters the decision had been "deferred" until India restored Kashmir's special status on Thursday.

Islamabad suspended trade and diplomatic ties with India in 2019 when Jammu and Kashmir were made into a Union Territory.

Both countries withdrew their top diplomats, and the consular staff was expelled or withdrawn.

However, there has been a frosty stand-off since, but signs of rapprochement recently have included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan exchanging letters, as well as a resumption of talks last week on the use of resources from their shared Indus River.