Since the Bharatiya Janata Party took over the rein of the government in New Delhi, the relations between Pakistan and India began to worsen with every passing day. The trade could not be picked up during the last four and half years and breach of the peace agreement shattered all hopes to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Control. Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded in the cross border firing and fiery statements from the Indian leaders are adding insult to injury, dashing down any hope to establish close business and trade relations between the two countries. The Indian leadership has bulldozed every Pakistani effort to revive the forums like the SAARC and the Indian media is fueling anti-Pakistan sentiments among its population. In this volatile situation, one can see the statement of the Indian High Commissioner strange as well as a blow of fresh air at the same time that the two countries should improve bilateral trade. He stressed the need for removing the non-tariff barriers which were the main hurdles in the improvement of trade relations between Pakistan and India. He emphasized that both countries should take required steps to avail business opportunities which could expand commerce by six times.
At present, the volume of indirect trade between Pakistan and India is over $5 billion which can be brought to as high as $30 billion if non-tariff barriers are removed, visa process is liberalised and mutual relations are normalized. There is dire need to remove the involvement of third country in the bilateral trade and it could only be possible if the Indian government sincerely wants to resolve chronic issues. As a matter of fact, trust deficit is the main hurdle in the improvement of relations. None of the sides is ready to trust the other and peace is the first casualty at the end. Pakistan has offered a hand of friendship on various occasions which has been blatantly rejected by the extremists’ government of India. There is no hope for improving business and trade relations until trust is restored. The Indian leadership will have to shun its anti-Pakistan rhetoric on the basis of which it came to power. The future of sub-continent lies in peace and not on war and violence and this should be understood to the officials sitting in New Delhi. India is building dams on the rivers meant for Pakistan, removing any hope of rapprochement between the two nations. The Pakistan’s offer of a hand of friendship should not be seen as weakness, but strength.
