| Syllabus: GS-II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighborhood, Issue: India-Pakistan |
Context: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said his country may “seriously examine” the question of resuming trade with India.
Reasons for reconsideration-
- Economic pressures and potential logistical efficiency drive the resumption of trade.
- Pakistan’s declining relative power and regional tensions with Afghanistan, Iran.
Challenges
- Lack of consensus within Pakistan
- India insists on addressing terrorism before advancing trade talks.
- Domestic politics in both countries complicate the path to improved economic ties.
The way ahead
- Resuming bilateral trade could benefit both economies, particularly in sectors like agriculture.
- Private diplomacy may pave the way for future negotiations.
