03/09/2022 - International Relations

KEY POINTS

·        At a time Pakistan is reeling from a monsoon with one-thirds of the country under water that has affected 33 million people India must step up engagement, including extending humanitarian assistance to its neighbour.

·        There is no reason why it can’t help Pakistan as it has helped Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Pakistan is also desperately short of foreign exchange to import essentials and is seeking IMF assistance.

·        India, too, withdrew MFN status to Pakistan in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attacks. MFN status ensures non-discriminatory trade between partner countries.

·        There is no reason why India cannot significantly increase its imports from that country beyond items like dates. India’s trade with Pakistan dwindled to $516 million in FY22 while our two-way trade with Bangladesh is 35-times larger, at $18 billion.

·        The uptick in Pakistan’s recent imports is a favourable augury for commerce to resume even if it is only food and vegetables for starters. Due to its bilateral problems with Pakistan.

·        India has preferred regional groupings like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.

·        Unfortunately, the truth is that as the dominant power in the region, India cannot address the unfinished agenda of South Asian integration without engaging Pakistan.

Kindly review this mam/sir

Hi

Kindly review