Indo-Pak trade talks begin

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Apr 27 (PTI) After a hiatus of over three
years, Indo-Pak Commerce Secretary talks began here on
Wednesday during which Islamabad is expected to raise the
issue of India's opposition to European Union's decision to
provide duty free access to Pakistani goods.
India's offer to sell oil and electricity to Pakistan
among others are also likely to be discussed at the meeting
which started at 11:30 am local time, two hours behind its
original schedule.
Officials said the delay was due to the late night
arrival of the Indian delegation here from Lahore.
The two-day meeting is taking place at the Serena
hotel here at the foot of the Margalla Hills near the Rawal
Lake, next to the Diplomatic Enclave.
The talks between Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zaffar
Mehmood and his Indian counterpart Rahul Khullar will focus on
on trade expansion and removal of non-tariff barriers between
the two countries.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had on Tuesday set
the tone for the talks, saying his country wanted
"constructive engagement" with India.
Following delegation-level talks, the two sides
are expected to issue a joint statement tomorrow.
During a meeting with Mahmood and Foreign Secretary
Salman Bashir, Gilani backed "constructive engagement" with
India, saying Islamabad wants to forge bilateral relations
that are based on "mutual interest and mutual respect".
Gilani also asked the Commerce Secretary to take on
board all stakeholders for establishing "mutually beneficial
trade relations with India".
Pakistan's Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim had
told the media after a meeting with Indian High Commissioner
Sharat Sabharwal that the agenda for the trade talks would be
open and all issues, including India's offer to sell oil and
electricity, will be discussed by the secretaries.
Sources said Pakistan is expected to raise India's
opposition to EU's decision to provide duty free access to
Pakistani goods.
Indian officials said the talks would focus on better
coordination and establishing systems that would boost
bilateral trade in compliance with multi-lateral and regional
obligations like the South Asian Free Trade Area pact.
"The aim will be to open up trade and move it to a
firmer footing," said an official who did not want to be
named.
Pakistan's concerns, including an incorrect perception
that India is imposing Pakistan-specific barriers, were likely
to figure in the talks, the officials said.
The average annual Pakistan-India trade volume is
around USD two billion. A total of 1,946 items are being
traded between the two countries.
The trade talks are part of the dialogue process that
was revived by the two countries earlier this year after a gap
of over three years.