India maintains status quo on bilateral trade with Pakistan

INTERNATIONAL DESK: India has clarified the situation regarding the resumption of trade with Pakistan following the devastating floods in the neighboring country.

In a weekly press briefing, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi made it clear that he had nothing to add to statements about the possibility of India-Pakistan trade reopening.

Although Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the floods in Pakistan, the spokesman said if there was any further aid announcement he would make an announcement.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. If there is anything more I have to say on this I would be glad to share at that time. For now, that’s all I have to say on the matter of assistance,” Arindam Bagchi said.

On Wednesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for his condolences over the loss of life and property caused by the devastating floods.

“I thank Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his condolences for the loss of life and property caused by the floods. With their characteristic resilience, the people of Pakistan must, Inshallah, overcome the adverse effects of this natural calamity and rebuild their lives and communities. “, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz said. Sharif said in a tweet.

The tweet came in response to Prime Minister Modi’s tweet, where he said he was saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan and hoped for a quick return to normalcy.

“Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for a speedy return to normality,” he tweeted. Prime Minister Modi. .

On Wednesday, Pakistani Finance Minister Miftah Ismail said international agencies had approached the country’s government to allow imports from India through the land border, however, the Pakistani government can only consider it. after assessing the supply shortage situation after consulting its coalition partners and key stakeholders.

“More than one international agency has approached the government to allow them to bring in food items from India through the land border. The government will decide whether to allow imports or not based on the shortage position procurement, after consultation with coalition partners and key stakeholders,” the minister tweeted.

In August 2019, relations between the two countries reached a new low after Pakistan decided to downgrade diplomatic relations with India, recalled its high commissioner from New Delhi and suspended bilateral trade.

Earlier, the Union Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, said there had been no progress between India and Pakistan since 2019 regarding the resumption of exchanges.

Heavy rains across Pakistan have triggered flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outbursts. In July, the country received over 60% of the average annual rainfall with over 33 million people estimated to have been affected by the floods with over 1,000 deaths reported and around 1,500 injured.