Razak and hawks poles apart on trade with India

According to a Dawn newspaper report, Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry and Production, and Investment has said that trade with India is the need of the hour and beneficial to both countries. 

“The trade with India is very beneficial to all, especially Pakistan. And I support it,” he added.

“As far as the Ministry of Commerce is concerned, its position is to do trade with India and my stance is that we should do trade with India and it should be opened now,” Dawood said.

Dawood said something which is logical and need of the hour. Many others believe once Pakistan and India start with Trade it would be only a matter of time to open other doors.

Many analysts believe that if Pakistan continue to beat the drum that there will be no trade with India unless article 370 is re-instated, then in the next 100 years Pakistan will not be able to do trade with India.

They also say that many hawks, who play a key role in Pakistan’s policy insist on banning trade, travel, sports and people to people contact with India. Therefore, whatever Razzak and likeminded people are saying does not matter.

It may be recalled that in the recent past EEC made a decision to allow import of cotton from India, but the decision was taken back on the insistence of Prime Minister Khan. It may be said the Khan is also under the pressure of hawks.

The people privy to the decision making process say that at times open and backdoor diplomacy sound hoax call, because hawks know exactly how to discourage trade with India.