‘Contradiction Between Comments By Minister, Spokesperson’: MEA On Pakistan Looking To Resume Trade With India

PTK News Desk

New Delhi : The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has highlighted a contradiction in statements from Pakistani officials regarding the resumption of trade with India.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal pointed out the discrepancy between the comments made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister and those of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Jaiswal urged reporters to refer to both sets of comments to understand the inconsistency.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had indicated that relevant stakeholders would seriously consider resuming trade with India, citing the desire of Pakistani businessmen. However, this was followed by a contradictory statement from Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, who asserted that there were no plans to resume trade relations with India, which have been “non-existent” since 2019.

The confusion arises amidst Pakistan’s diplomatic downgrading of ties with India following the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Despite Dar’s assertion as the newly appointed Foreign Minister, Baloch reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position on trade with India.

Ishaq Dar, who previously served as Pakistan’s Finance Minister, assumed the role of Foreign Minister in Islamabad’s newly elected government. His appointment comes amidst a backdrop of controversy surrounding Pakistan’s recent elections, with allegations of internet shutdowns, rigging, and a lack of a ‘level-playing field.’

Following contentious polls, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) reached an agreement to form a government after negotiations and deliberations.

The contradictory statements from Pakistani officials underscore the complexities surrounding bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, with trade resumption remaining a point of contention amidst broader diplomatic and political issues.