RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4065
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.04.2022
RESUMPTION OF TRADE TIES WITH PAKISTAN
4065. SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR GUPTA:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :
(a) whether the attention of Government has been drawn to a media report stating that ‘Adviser to Pakistan PM Imran Khan backs resumption of trade ties with India’; and
(b) if so, the views of Government in this regard ?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) to (b) The Government has seen media reports stating that ‘Adviser to Pakistan PM Imran Khan backs resumption of trade ties with India’.
The Government’s consistent position has been that India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan and is committed to addressing issues, if any, bilaterally and peacefully in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan to create such a conducive atmosphere.
In August 2019, Pakistan announced the suspension of bilateral trade with India. Pakistan partially relaxed its ban on trade with India in September 2019 by permitting trade in certain pharmaceutical products.