‘Better late than never’, is the idiom which best suits to the advice of Advisor to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Abdul Razak Dawood as he has endorsed the idea of resuming trade with India, which was suspended by Islamabad in August 2019 after New Delhi revoked special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This is not only the single case because if the Pakistani leadership will mull on taking rational steps, whatever India has suggested till date will prove out to be beneficial for both the nations and the people of Indian sub-continent. It is pertinent to mention that the stance of the Advisor of Pak Prime Minister that trade with India is the need of the hour and beneficial to both countries is true to the hilt but the ties between the two nations which are estranged right now can only be sorted out after Pakistan will stop abetting terrorism in J&K and stop from interfering in the internal matters of the country including the Kashmir. This is crucial for the friendly ties to resume between India and Pakistan. Reportedly, the comments from Dawood have raised hopes of a partial revival of Pakistan-India bilateral trade relations. Pakistan was wrong in taking such a hostile stand over Article 370 issue as the same was the internal matter of India and it has nothing to do with Pakistan or any other nation. The stance by the Pak premier’s Advisor is sane and that country should give a serious thought to the same to ease off tensions in the region as friendly ties between neighbours is the need of the time in international arena whether it is between India and Pakistan, India and China or for that matter with any other country. Notably, India’s move to abrogate Article 370 outraged Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad. Pakistan also snapped all air and land links with India and suspended trade and railway services. India has said that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence. With the changing mood of Pakistan it seems things will once again take a favourable turn and trade ties will soon be restored for benefit of the people of both the nations.
