Recent findings that Indian trade authorities might be deliberately delaying Pakistan’s EU concessions, especially after the win-win fanfare, is symptomatic of regressive tendencies in the Indian establishment responsible for repeatedly derailing sincere confidence building initiatives. The Fahim-Sharma summit, despite the accompanying hype, delivered an official joint statement that made no mention of New Delhi removing objections to the Pak-EU special trade deal, Pakistan’s core demand in return for the MFN status. The dilly-dallying indicates that India probably gambled on extracting the MFN concession, while ensuring just enough friction on the EU front for the time-bound opportunity to go begging.
If these allegations prove true, it wouldn’t be the first time Islamabad’s diplomatic initiatives met with an undiplomatic snub from Delhi. Gen Musharraf’s Agra visit a decade ago, when the Vajpayee government appeared helpless in preventing hard-line elements in the government setup from wasting the summit, exposed increasing hold of conservative, anti-Pakistan elements on India’s top decision making machine. And despite recurring confidence building measures, India’s stiff stance has ruled out meaningful progress on core issues, especially trade and Kashmir, despite Pakistan clearly breaking off from the traditional status-quo and reaching out.
The present problem – of the EU trade deal – is more worrying because India’s position is clearly wrong. European Union concessions were warranted in return for Pakistan’s proactive participation in the war against terror, in addition to unprecedented losses in last year’s floods. It is bad enough that India has long postured to foil the arrangement. But it is another thing altogether to make promises on a diplomatic, governmental level, then appear changing stance without warning. Both governments must settle this matter urgently. Sharma promised before the world that India would now facilitate Pakistan’s position. Someone in Delhi must clarify its position.
The Indians have bargained MFN status to let us avail EU quota for trade.thats what it all appears to be.They are ready to provide 500 MW of power also even though power shortages are biting them equally.Why shower such goodness should be understood that US does not want Pakistan to get power and Gas from Iran,and here we are ,an elected democratic government buckles too !
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