India not granted MFN status, says Gilani

[newdelhinsa]

There is no indication that the Army was responsible for this, so what is wrong with saying with my statement?

I think you are posting for sake of just posting. Your own post can entertain the same reasoning that there is no indication that India by not releasing 7 fishermen (which is state/local police case, has always been the case for civilians crossing International waters)made your PM cancel the MFN to India. The idiot who wrote article in The Hindu failed when he compared fishermen crossing the international border (a common, everyday violation) with a rare violation of LOC by InA officers crossing the borders.

Anyhow, one request, please do not quote my whole post but quote the part/line you are going to answer.

In my rest of the post I have told you that people pointing at GHQ can be justified given the trend and the phenomenon. I also mentioned that your PM might have been explaining the the process, and the proposal is still on. His technical explanation is quite clever to clam down (if that is the case)/be-fool hatemonger in Pakistan; meanwhile your cabinet will draft the proposal, while all haters will muck around in confusion.

 

[President Camacho]

Whats happening in late march next year ?

All the fronts will merge. Well, they already do somewhat, but then it will be for all to see. It's not like a roof collapsing, or some sort of OBL raid. It will be culmination of a lot of gradual process already underway.

 

[oyea]

Mr. Gilani said liberalisation of trade with India would benefit Pakistan’s economy.

No it won't. It will only bring destruction to many Pakistan industries if not properly regulated, which obviously it won't be. That is why businessmen from various sectors oppose this nonsense. Only the textile industry seems to be all too eager at the expense of all other sectors.

This MFN thing suits India's purposes perfectly. Once it destroys Pakistan's industries and makes us dependent on their supplies, they will be in a perfect position to blackmail/control/threaten us quite easily.

“It does not mean that we have given up our stand on other issues, including Kashmir. Look at the rising trade volume between China and India despite their border disputes,” he noted.

China is a heavy-weight you dweeb of a PM. Plus the flow of trade is in China's favor. Is that the case for us??

 

[Kaniska]

This is really ridiculous...if the whole of pakistan is very much sure than providing MFN is hurting pakistan intrests then why is your gov discussing about this point in first place? Why dont completely close this proposal with a clear cut statement that pakistan will not provide mfn to india and then close the chapter...Fact is that it is not india is blaming the PM...It is the internal weakness of your GOV that is a matter of shame to you...You should be concerned that if your GOV is not able to decide and come to a conclusion to such a small non military aspect ..how they will deal with other complicated issues...See again...i am not expecting that pakistan to provide mfn rather make a final call and confirm that there will not be mfn for india and then chapter will be closed.....

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Pushback by the Army: How dare the "bloody civilians" think of controlling foreign policy.

Nothing more.

Tussles of this type will only grow in the coming months.

Why automatically blame this on the 'Army'?

As I pointed out elsewhere, several industrial sectors in Pakistan such as pharmaceuticals, automotive parts suppliers, textiles etc. expressed concerns over open trade in some sectors with India.

 

[SpArK]

Now who's gonna answer them?

China hails Pak according India MFN | Onion Live

China, US term Pak MFN status to India a positive development


Will it be a "oops my bad" moment?

 

[newdelhinsa]

China is a heavy-weight you dweeb of a PM. Plus the flow of trade is in China's favor. Is that the case for us??

Indians are still earning in billions from the trade and the balance is in China's favour because of less in offering from India. Furthermore nations doing business are usually not dim to a blogger's level and can alter influx and out flux of trade/goods to save their own markets. This is what India has been doing, just recently we capped iron ore export to China for our own mills (just an example). I can bet Pakistanis are intelligent enough to keep the balance accordingly.

Pakistan can earn with what he can offer/sells and refuse to buy if the balance tilts too much towards India. Also your dweeby statement can go against you when someone will call you out to explain Sino-Pak free trade treaty.

Something is better than nothing.

 

[VCheng]

Why automatically blame this on the 'Army'?

As I pointed out elsewhere, several industrial sectors in Pakistan such as pharmaceuticals, automotive parts suppliers, textiles etc. expressed concerns over open trade in some sectors with India.

Those concerns have indeed been expressed; the need for adequate safeguards has also been appreciated, both within and without. The public sector is such a cesspool of graft and corruption that those matters will be solved in the traditional manner: who can pay what to whom. That is, if one group of thieves that benefits from limiting trade with India holds sway and protect their internal monopolies, they will try to do it. In any case, opening up internal markets to competition forces domestic industry to improve.

However, I recognize that it is only the Army that keeps its perception of national interest supreme over such considerations. My comment is based upon the fact that the Army continues to rely on "India as enemy" to influence foreign policy. I believe that this philosophy cannot remain viable for much longer.

 

[Paan Singh]

Why automatically blame this on the 'Army'?

As I pointed out elsewhere, several industrial sectors in Pakistan such as pharmaceuticals, automotive parts suppliers, textiles etc. expressed concerns over open trade in some sectors with India.

1)pharma industries are threatened coz they sell drugs 3 times more costly which is available in india too.
2)it is also clear that indian auto sector will trash the local industries if come in market.

and pakistani corporate sector fully agrees with increasing trade and mfn.

Few industries will be destroyed but it increases quality and competition though.This goes both sides.

 

[SpArK]

The Premier was quoted by The Express Tribune as saying that only the business communities and stock exchanges of Pakistan and India are "legitimate stakeholders" in the issue and both were "on board" along with the parties in the ruling coalition.

However, during her news conference on Wednesday, information minister Awan had said that all stakeholders, including the military and defence institutions, were "on board" on the MFN issue.

The issue of normalising trade ties also figured in foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar's consultations yesterday with top military officials, including ISI chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

Gilani said the Commerce Ministry would have to make important decisions independently in bargaining with India over trade policy and hence it had sought the Cabinet's go-ahead.

 

[Lankan Ranger]

The civilian government on Thursday assured the military leadership that neither the national interests would be affected nor there would be any change in the Kashmir cause or policies after granting the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.

A high-level emergency meeting was held at the Foreign Office with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in the chair. Besides ISI Director General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, senior military and civil officers attended the meeting. Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood was also invited.

The meeting was called after concerns were raised from different quarters about the motives and factors in granting MFN to India. Taking the notice of the concerns, top political leadership had directed for briefing the military high-ups.

The meeting discussed at length the government decision of granting the MFN status to India under WTO obligation. The foreign minister briefed the participants in detail about her visit to India and the talks held between the two countries. The commerce secretary delineated facts and figures behind taking this decision.

The meeting was told that relations between Pakistan and India are heading towards right direction, and Islamabad will trade with New Delhi without budging an inch from its principled stand, and policy on Kashmir issue will persist.

Expressing concerns, the participants also raised some points but they were assured that in developing relations with India no compromise will be made on the national interests. The military leadership was also assured that Pakistan did not change its stance it had taken in the dialogue process that was resumed after Mumbai attacks. The foreign minister also replied the different questions asked by the participants.

Agencies add: Foreign Office spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said that Pakistan is not backtracking on giving India MFN status.

She was responding to a question that a senior Indian official had said that Pakistan was bowing to domestic business interests opposed to finalising MFN status. "Pakistan clearly stated that our cabinet gave approval to move forward on MFN status in principle," she said.

Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood said: "We are extremely hopeful that there will be a major breakthrough in the next round of commerce secretaries' meetings on November 14, 15 in Delhi." "We will finalise all the details in that meeting," he told reporters.


National interests will not be compromised, military told - PakTribune

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

However, I recognize that it is only the Army that keeps its perception of national interest supreme over such considerations. My comment is based upon the fact that the Army continues to rely on "India as enemy" to influence foreign policy. I believe that this philosophy cannot remain viable for much longer.

Then why release the Indian chopper after five hours, instead of holding it for longer and milking it for propaganda?

There are valid concerns over unregulated trade with India, and the cabinet decision could have been perceived as a 'rush to open the flood gates of trade' (inaccurately perhaps) which resulted in pushback and lobbying from various industrial and financial groups.

Not everything is an Army/ISI conspiracy, though I suppose your Pakistani origins predispose you towards 'conspiracy theories and paranoia', as the West and Indians like to describe Pakistani society as

 

[Paan Singh]

A high-level emergency meeting was held at the Foreign Office with Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in the chair. Besides ISI Director General Ahmad Shuja Pasha, senior military and civil officers attended the meeting. Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood was also invited.

so its clear that military runs the foreign affairs,even these leaders cant take this decisions.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

1)pharma industries are threatened coz they sell drugs 3 times more costly which is available in india too.
2)it is also clear that indian auto sector will trash the local industries if come in market.

and pakistani corporate sector fully agrees with increasing trade and mfn.

Few industries will be destroyed but it increases quality and competition though.This goes both sides.

Those 'few industries' employ hundreds of thousands of people directly and indirectly, and 'trashing them' is not useful by any means for Pakistan.

Regulated trade in which these industries are both protected and areas in which Pakistan benefits opened to trade with India is the way to go.

---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 AM ----------

so its clear that military runs the foreign affairs,even these leaders cant take this decisions.

No it isn't clear, because if the military really ran all foreign affairs, rather than providing input and being an influential player, Khar would not be briefing military officials AFTER THE FACT.

If the military was that involved in the MFN decision making process, then it would have never been passed in the first place by the cabinet.

 

[JanjaWeed]

Once again civilian govt in pakistan is in fire fighting mode. It's not that long ago when they had to backtrack on their announcements about sending DG ISI to india after 26/11 or bringing ISI under interior ministry! I know it's off topic.. but that's just the way it works in Pakistan. Civilian govt is just there to bear the brunt...whereas foreign policy decisions are made somewhere else. Maybe next time they will ask for prior approval from big daddy before coming out with such blockbuster announcements.