|
Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said the Kashmir issue would be on the top of agenda during dialogue between India and Pakistan as all the roads towards peace in the region come from Kashmir.
He said there was no chance of sidelining the core issue of Kashmir while negotiating with India, the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan said on Mondaythat Pakistan was ready for trade with India after resumption of peace talks between the two countries.
Pakistan was hoping that, when peace talks resume with India, trade and exchange of business leaders will figure higher on the agenda, said the minister.
He said Pakistan has also be conducting negotiations with India over South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA).
"Now that diplomatic tension is easing in the region, we are hoping to finalize the agreement by our next summit meeting," he said.
If that happens, the move will clearly pave the way for the creation of South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), a seven-nation economic goal, Akhtar Khan said.
Traders in both countries, particularly in steel, cement, textiles, coffee and machinery sectors, stand to benefit much if open-trade is allowed by the two governments, said an analyst here.
If import-export restrictions are removed and transport links restored, potential trade between the two nations could amount to nearly US$4 billion, he said.
(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2003)
|
