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| Will Indo-Pak trust-Deficit Turn Into Trade-Benefit? | | | Anil Bhat | 5/1/2012 11:32:44 PM |
| Following the severe 2005 earthquake in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, India had opened three points at Chakan DaBagh (Poonch), Teetwal (Tangdhar) and Aman Setu (Uri) on the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan for facilitating large scale relief stores and assistance. Eventually Kaman Aman Setu' Bridge became a vital road connection across the LoC, facilitating the bus service 'Karwan-e-Aman' as also trans- LoC trade. A massive boulder from across the Line of Control, triggered by landslide caused heavy damage to the bridge on February 14, 2011 rendering it unsuitable for vehicular traffic. In true tradition of the Indian Army's ethos of 'Service before Self', Chinar Corps took the initiative to repair the bridge and restore connectivity at the earliest. On April 12, 2012, India's Commerce Minister Anand Sharma along with Pakistan's Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim got together for the second time in New Delhi to inaugurate the Lifestyle Pakistan exhibition. The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) held the first ever high-end lifestyle exhibition with traders from various parts of Pakistan traveling to New Delhi from April 12-15, 2012 with their respective products. 'Lifestyle Pakistan' showcased over 100 top brands and designers from Pakistan known for their design and quality the world over in fashion textiles and apparel, designer furniture, leather goods, accessories, food products, marble, ornaments and intricate handicrafts, including those of the famous onyx - all mined from Balochistan, but hand-crafted in Karachi.
TDAP Chief Executive Tariq Puri said "regional trade focus with countries in our region is key objective of TDAP. We are keen to translate cultural, social affinity and strong connect between people of India and Pakistan into expanded bilateral trade, commercial relations. Presence of large businessmen delegation and exhibition of such scale will help explore infinite possibilities and opportunities in bilateral trade in both countries….With Lifestyle Pakistan, we present Pakistan's best to India and look forward to developing synergies in areas of common interest. We are grateful to Indian Commerce Ministry of India and ITPO for their collaboration in extending extraordinary support and facilitation for this initiative. We look forward to aligning and developing projects which could help further strengthening our ties,"
Some of leading Pakistani business houses participating in the Exhibition were Gul Ahmed, AlKaram, Hub Leather, Khaadi, Chen One, Bonanza, Shamaeel by Sitara, Nishat & Orient Textile Mills and many others. Faiza Samee, Maria B, Asim Jofa, and Honey Waqar were among top designers displaying their collections during four-day exhibition. The Pakistani Food Extravaganza at Pragati Maidan's Food Court had a spread of finger-licking delicacies like assorted stuffed naans, kababs, korma and not to miss, biryani. Last but certainly not the least were musical performances and an art exhibition. Rita Menon, Chairman & MD ITPO said, "We welcome this initiative of TDAP and delighted to collaborate with them. We look forward to vast range of product showcase from a culturally rich and diverse country like Pakistan. We are confident that two countries will be able to exchange and blend their respective trade expertise and strengths through this initiative." "There were some misgivings but on coming here we see that Delhi is a great place and the people are very nice….Where is Delhi Haat-will it be open now?," said Rehan Bashir, a young Pakistani artist on his first visit to India with the large Pakistani delegation of traders who made Pragati Maidan's (Exhibition Ground) Pavilion No. 18 come alive with a great bazaar called Lifestyle Pakistan. Nadeem Ahmed, an onyx dealer displaying fascinating artifacts including four feet high vases and 4'x4' chess tables with 8 inches high chess pieces, said that while many visited his stall, he hardly had any sale and no orders or tie-ups yet. 17 year old charming Hana Khan and her parents who came from Karachi with their women's designer clothes marketed under their brand name Lulu's, enjoyed their sojourn and made some sales. In September last year, after 64 years of relations severely strained by three conventional wars, nuclearisation and a fourth war by proxy export of terrorism by Pakistan's military to India continuing since three decades, the meeting of commerce ministers and industrialists of both countries after a gap of 35 years, indeed came as an unexpected, but not unpleasant surprise. Pakistan's Commerce and Trade Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim, accompanied by an 80-member delegation of elite Pakistani businessmen, came on a five-day visit to India, to attend the India-Pakistan Business Conclave, organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, sessions of which were held at Mumbai and New Delhi from 26 to 30 September 2011. Pakistani business leaders were very optimistic that their visit would help in settling very critical trade issues between Pakistan and India, like issuance of multiple visa for Pakistan's bonafide businessmen for at least one year, end to non-tariff barriers for Pakistani goods destined to Indian markets, giving the status of Most Favourite Nation (MFN) to India, implementation of South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) wherein Pakistan is to end the negative list except a few classified items. Following the meetings and deliberations, India agreed to withdraw its objections/reservations filed with WTO on European Union market access and concessions accorded to 75 Pakistani goods, which senior business leaders acknowledged as a major fillip for Pakistan in promoting its exports.
Fahim's first visit materializing barely two months after Pakistan's foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar's July 2011 visit, must obviously have been the result of some positive atmosphere generated during talks with her Indian counterpart SM Krishna, preceded by foreign secretary level parleys, which included a number of steps to boost cross-Kashmir trade and travel. The present level of trade between both sides of nearly $2.5 billion is expected to go up 10 times with Pakistan initiating the process to accord most favoured nation (MFN) status to India for trade. Lifestyle Pakistan was made possible by a massive effort of building a newly-constructed integrated check post (ICP) at Attari, near Amritsar, along the international border between India and Pakistan, inaugurated on 13 April by union Home Minister P. Chidam baram in the presence of Fahim, Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif,Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, and union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, among others. The ICP, 30 km from Amritsar (280 km from Chandigarh), which had a soft launch on 08 April prior to its formal inauguration, is spread over nearly 120 acres and built at a cost of nearly Rs.150 crore, will have state-of-the-art facilities including 16 immigration counters, 12 customs counters, dedicated terminals for cargo and passengers over an area of 4,700 sq.m., a truck-parking area of 55,000 sq.m. and a helipad for emergency needs.
On the issue of trade in petroleum products and electricity, the ministers expressed the desire that the officials concerned of both countries should fast track the ongoing process, while respective central banks are exploring the needful aspects of opening of branches of banks of both countries across the border.
This decision was taken on the same day at a delegation-level meeting, which was the third bilateral meeting between the commerce ministers of India and Pakistan within less than seven months, when both sides expressed satisfaction at the joint and coordinated efforts made for making the new gates at the Attari ICP functional for trade. "The new arrangements shall streamline movement of trucks across the border and significantly enhance the flow of trade through land route," the joint statement said. The Pakistani side said they have already built sufficient infrastructure at Wagah border and were clearing all the current cargo traffic. 'I am very happy that the ICP project has been completed and made operational on the auspicious day of Baisakhi,' Badal said and urged the governments of India and Pakistan to also open trade from the Hussainiwala border check-post near Ferozepur.
This may also begin to happen as both Messrs Sharma and Fahim directed officials to discuss possibilities of opening new routes and customs stations. A joint press statement issued by the two ministers stated: "The ministers expressed the wish that discussions may continue at the official level for possibilities of opening more land customs stations between both countries…This would enhance greater economic engagement between business communities of both sides and deepen bilateral cooperation for mutual prosperity of their people".Addressing a joint press conference on 13 April, Sharma said India has decided "in principle" to allow investments from Pakistan, which is the only country from where foreign direct investment is not allowed into India.
Meanwhile export of terrorism continues unabated. According to a recent editorial in a Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) daily, on one hand Pakistan seems to be keen in promoting ties with India through the process of dialogue aimed at reducing trust deficit, on the other hand Pak army and the ISI continue to sustain conflict and aid to militants. Since 2004, even after the border ceasefire, Pakistani troops have constructed of 886 bunkers, 261 morchas, 398 towers and 143 border outposts on the Line of Control and the International Boundary in J&K. Wasim Akram Malik, the key conspirator of the Delhi high court blast in September 2011revealed terror outfits, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, are now adopting a new strategy for yet again motivating Kashmiri youth to militancy. Regarding Pakistan taking action against perpetrators of 26/11, there seems no chance of its doing so as that would mean acknowledging Pak army and ISI's role in the attack.
Days after the Pakistani trade delegation's visit and as a response to India's test-firing the Agni-5, Pakistan test- launched an upgraded ballistic missile Shaheen 1-A, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Described as an intermediate-range missile having a longer range than its predecessor, Shaheen-1, which is believed to be 750 kilometers, if the Shaheen-1A is indeed an intermediate-range (3000-5000 km) missile, it would represent a quantum leap from the previous version.
Following the disastrous avalanche in Pakistan held Siachen glacier, which buried about 135 Pakistanis, including 124 of troops in the 6th Northern Light Infantry battalion, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaque Parvez Kayani for the first time said that a way should be found for the demilitarisation of Siachen. Blaming India for first sending troops to Siachen in 1984, which it did as a response to Pak army's entry there in the guise of expeditions, he at the same time, admits that the two countries were close to reaching an agreement on the glacier issue not long ago. Indian Army is wary about Pak army reneging on such a move and the possibility of China moving in there ala its army digging its heels in Pak occupied Kashmir.
Can we hope for aman (peace) to defeat aatank (terror)? Inshallah! |
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