By Afshain Afzal

Under the pressure from the USA, European Union and Israel, Pakistan is being persuaded to bend her knees and extended a hand of friendship to India. One wonders where peace is vital for the regional stability but should Pakistan compromise on her position on free and impartial plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir State? Media reports says that on 30 August 2022, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said in a statement, “Government may “consider importing vegetables and other edible items from India”.

Interestingly, in February 2021, after the joint statements issued by the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on maintaining ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC), India has quickly moving towards peace with Pakistan. Statistics issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, “Exports from India to Pakistan stood at $513.82 million in the 2021-2022 fiscal”, however the Governments are cheating their masses by importing Indian goods via Dubai, which is the main reason why the UAE has emerged as one of the largest trading partners of Pakistan, while trading directly will prove to be cost-effective for Islamabad.

If we recall, New Delhi stopped cross-border trade in April 2019 to pave way for declaring the disputed India-administered Kashmir with semi-autonomous status as permanent part of India. India closed the trade on the plea that the route was being misused by Pakistan. On the Pakistani side of Jammu and Kashmir, the traders in India-administered Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan in April 2022, demanded from the authorities to reopen trade routes with Pakistan as the prices of goods and food continue to skyrocket.

In a tweet few days back, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy “.

It is strange that Pakistan should have objections in maintaining trade with India after New Delhi violated the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on disputed Jammu and Kashmir State but it is India which has shown its reluctance to trade with Pakistan.

This week Pakistan expressed its willingness to resume bilateral trade with India. New Delhi has made it clear that it will not take such a step in terms of “normalization of trade”. However, India is ready to extend humanitarian aid and assistance for the flood-hit areas of the neighboring country, “based on the kind of request” that comes from Islamabad. India has said it is “open” to sending vegetables and other food items, as well as medicines and essential items to Pakistan, on a “case-to-case” basis depending on the “kind of request” that gets communicated from Islamabad to New Delhi,

Ironically, the Government of Pakistan has ordered to facilitate onion and tomato imports from Iran and Afghanistan to stabilize food prices. The food ministry has asked the Federal Board of Revenue to waive taxes and levies on onion and tomato imports for the next three months and expects that this will be made effective immediately. This seems not to benefit Afghanistan but to India.

It is beyond comprehension that price of onions in India per 100 kilograms is Indian Rs 1527 whereas price in Pakistan per 100 kilograms it is Pak Rs 25500. Flood are not everywhere in Pakistan and the fact cannot be denied that the onions and tomatoes from Afghanistan are imported round the year. Many believe that this has been done intentionally by the fifth columnists funded and groomed by India, who have acquired Pakistani citizenship and engaged in businesses. It is highly objectionable to resume trade with India on the pretext of floods. As a nation first we must issue censure to India for violating United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir State and declaring unilaterally Jammu and Kashmir as territory of India. One wonder how Pakistan can stage drama on the dead bodies and detentions of innocent Kashmiris in the ill-fated Jammu and Kashmir State.