Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has confirmed that no trade talks have occurred between India and Pakistan since last year. Speaking at the Indian embassy in Washington, Jaishankar stated that neither side had proposed resuming trade.
He clarified that India had never stopped trade with Pakistan, emphasizing that Pakistan itself suspended trade in 2019. He further noted that while India granted Pakistan Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, Pakistan never reciprocated.
Pakistan severed ties with India following New Delhi’s unilateral revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, an action Islamabad considers detrimental to dialogue between the two nations.
Despite strained relations, the two countries agreed to renew the 2003 ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control in February 2021. Last year, Pakistan’s Foreign Office reiterated that no bilateral trade discussions were taking place due to India’s actions in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the PML-N government expressed interest in revisiting trade relations with India. Former PM Nawaz Sharif voiced his desire for improved ties, recalling previous visits of Indian leaders to Pakistan during his tenure and expressing hope for future dialogue with PM Modi.
