"We didn't stop trading” EAM Jaishankar on trade with Pak, calls 'MFN status' "longstanding concern"

Jan 23, 2025

Washington, DC [US], January 23 (ANI): External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar addressed the status of India's trade relations with Pakistan, clarifying that New Delhi didn't cease trade, but rather, it was the Islamabad administration that decided to halt trading in 2019. "We did not stop trading. Their administration made the decision in 2019 to not continue trading with us," Jaishankar said in a press conference in Washington DC on Wednesday (local time). He also reiterated India's longstanding concern regarding the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, which India had extended to Pakistan but which Pakistan didn't reciprocate. "Our concern about this issue was from the beginning that we should get MFN status. We used to give this status to Pakistan but they did not give it to us," the EAM said. Noting that there have been no recent discussions or initiatives on trade from either side, he added, "So, neither such talks have taken place with Pakistan regarding trade from our side, nor did they take any initiative from their side."