NEW DELHI: "Pakistan believes that a peaceful and secure environment in the region is imperative for the promotion of meaningful economic cooperation and development in the region," he said, addressing the third meeting of India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI) here. "To achieve this objective, we must move beyond the roll back of unilateral measures and promote an enlightened vision of amity and cooperation in South Asia," said Khan, who arrived here last week and is yet to present his credentials to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Some 130 businessmen and women are attending the two-day meeting, inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha. It is the biggest business delegation from Pakistan to visit India and reflects the thaw in bilateral ties since Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee unveiled his peace initiative in April. The conference hall of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), where the meeting was held, was filled to capacity. Before the meeting commenced Indian and Pakistani businessmen, who have maintained trade and other contacts despite the strain in relations between their countries, were seen warmly greeting one another. By calling for going beyond the roll back of "unilateral measures," Khan sought to put the blame squarely on India for snapping of direct road, rail and air links between the two countries and withdrawal of high commissioners from each other's capital. Referring to the peace initiative, he said addressing the outstanding political issues "on the basis of universally recognized principles of sovereign equality and mutual benefit" would bode well for promotion of not only bilateral economic cooperation and trade relations but also regional trade. "Apart from addressing political issues, we also need to create level-playing fields for the development of closer economic cooperation and promotion of trade relations among the regional countries. "We must overcome the protectionist mindset, using non-tariff and para-tariff barriers which go against the grain of open trade and economic cooperation," he said in an apparent criticism of India's trade policy, describing it as "one-sided."
Source: IANS