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"The process of normalisation is already underway and the grant of MFN (Most Favoured Nation) status is part of that normalisation process. There is no question of U-turn about it," Pakistan High Commissioner to India Shahid Malik said here. He was talking to reporters after meeting Home Minister P Chidambaram.
After announcing on November 2 that its Cabinet has decided to grant the MFN status to India, Pakistan issued several confusing statements yesterday.
Though Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma had spoken to his Pakistani counterpart, New Delhi has not received any formal communication from Islamabad.
Malik said, the Pakistani Cabinet had mandated the Ministry of Commerce to carry forward the process of normalisation of bilateral trade relations.
Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood would visit India later this month, he said.
"...The Commerce Secretary of Pakistan will be visiting India as part of the ongoing discussion and dialogue towards the middle of this month. He will take the process forward," Malik said.
Grant of MFN status to India would mean that, as mandated by WTO, Pakistan will have to give trade treatment to India at par with its other partners. India had granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in 1996.
A meager bilateral trade of USD 2.65 billion is carried in a restricted manner. Pakistan allows import of only 1945 items through a 'positive' list. India,on the other hand, allows trade in all but 868 items in its 'sensitive list'.
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This is the best news for the whole world. Lives of Pakistanis will improve, lives of Indians will improve due to Pakistani demand. American dollars will find their way to India. Pakistanis will find out that friendship with India improves their quality of life. Support to Terrorism ceases. Heck Pakistan reunites with India......Am I dreaming the end of evil? No, just wait for another 10 years
None in Pakistan wants to be seen conciliatory or favorable to India.Such has been the level of hatred mongering,be it distorted history teaching since childhood,out cry by Mullas,politicians parroting Kashmir or taking revenge on creation of Bangladesh,which their own atrocities on Bengalie helped create. That is why even though the MFN issue is in mutual interest,all in Pakistan shy away from openly advocating it.After it got ministerial accent,politicians are trying either to down play this important development or to give confusing signals in order to keep their anti India posture intact. Till such growing realities are not reversed and negative propaganda nullified,MFN provisions lasting for long remains suspect.Any time,we may expect Fatwa or sabotage by fanatics.This is substantiated by the fact that Judge had to run away after delivering judgement in Salman Taseer's and other similar cases.