Washington, Nov 4: The US today applauded Pakistan's decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation status to India, saying it was the “most tangible” thing to have happened in Indo-Pak relations that could lead to full normalisation of their trade ties.
“This is a very, very big deal, very important; could lead to really great economic opportunities for both India and Pakistan; sets the kind of example within the Silk Road family that we would like to see throughout that region,” State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland told reporters.
In response to a question on the issue, she said “We'd like to see the opening of trade relations because this will bring prosperity to everybody, break down old barriers, really lift all boats in the region and make the region even more vital as a centre of global commerce.”
“We don't yet have Most Favoured Nation status, but what we do have and we are very pleased to see happen is, we have a decision, unanimously approved by the Pakistani Cabinet, to open a path for full normalisation of trade relations with India, as agreed in the meeting between the Indian and Pakistani Commerce Ministers in Delhi this September, which will, in turn, we hope, lead to MFN status,” she said.
The Obama administration applauds India and Pakistan for this, she said. “We really applaud Pakistan and India for taking this concrete step to improve their relations. It's the most tangible thing that they've done yet.”
“Our hope is that the process of normalisation in both directions, including getting eventually to full MFN, continues and that there is a reduction in non-tariff barriers by India that'll also lead to a full expansion of opportunity. Very exciting,” Nuland said.
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