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US urges India, Pak to hold table talks
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IANS | 08 Apr, 2021
The US Department of State has called on both India
and Pakistan to hold direct talks and resolve pending issues with an aim
to normalise relations.
Refraining to comment on the recent
approval and then cancellation by Pakistan to import sugar and cotton
from India, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said the US supports
direct dialogue between the nuclear-powered neighbours.
"I
wouldn't want to comment on that specifically. What I would say is that
we continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on
issues of concern," he said.
Pakistan cancelled its trade ties
with India during August 2019 after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led
Indian government abrogated Article 370 and 35A and changed the special
status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories.
Pakistan
was quick to respond to Indian actions, as it cut off diplomatic
relations with India, sending back the sitting Indian High Commissioner
in Islamabad, closing the borders, disallowing visas and suspending all
trade ties.
Pakistan demanded that there can be no talks with
India until the reversal of the decisions Indian government took on
August 5, 2019.
However, a change in policy was witnessed
recently when the two sides mutually agreed to observe a ceasefire on
the Line of Control (LoC), ending the escalating tensions.
This
was followed by positive hopes filled letter from Modi to his Pakistani
counterpart Imran Khan, expressing hopes and desire for peace.
Khan
responded to the letter with similar sentiments, calling for dialogue
to end the longstanding disputes between the two countries.
On
March 31, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) announced that it
was going to allow import of white sugar and cotton from India for the
country's private sector, to cover the shortfall of requirements in the
country.
However, the federal cabinet deferred the ECC's
decision on April 1, putting the condition that there can be no trade
with India until New Delhi reverses its decision to abrogate Article 370
and 35A.
It has been reported that friendly countries have been
contacting both countries through backdoor channels, urging both sides
to initiate dialogue and explore options to resolve the pertaining
conflict and disputes for regional stability, peace and development.
Pakistan had called for the US' intervention in the matter during the tenure of former President Donald Trump's administration.
However,
its efforts did not yield fruit as the US clarified that it cannot
intervene in a bilateral matter until both sides agree to it.
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