New Delhi: Pakistan has done it again. The nation has ruled out giving India the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status - all because External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that the nation should implement South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) in toto to encourage free trade in the region.
"I've come to invite the the Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and the Foreign Minister Kasuri to the SAARC Summit. I am here to review the three rounds of composite bilateral dialogue and discuss matters of mutual interest particularly economic cooperation. I will conduct dialogue to remove blockades to the free flow of goods in the region and to see to the implementation of the SAFTA," Mukherjee had said during his visit.
The SAFTA topic had come up for discussion between the Indian Foriegn Minister and Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on January 13, during Mukherjee's visit.
In response, Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan hoped India would create "a level-playing field by removing non-tariff barriers".
"Extending MFN is not the only solution to promote trade but there should be level-playing field", he was quoted as saying by the state run APP news agency.
Aziz was quoted by PTI as saying that Pakistan was committed to the ongoing composite dialogue with India, which needed to be made more meaningful and result-oriented.
Without referring to the World Bank arbitration over the Baglihar power project, he said both the countries needed to observe the Indus Basin Treaty signed in 1960 in both letter and spirit so that new projects are executed strictly in accordance with the Treaty.
Experts from the World Bank were expected to deliver their verdict next month.
(With inputs from PTI)
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