REGION IN RECOIL : TRADE TRUCE PRECIS

 

WITH an over $100-billion trade between India and China - while remain sworn enemies over Ladakh, Himachal, Arunachal and Assam.

But Pakistan lives under self-imposed constraints and denies itself trading with the world's most rapidly growing economy in the neighbourhood with an expanding middle class.

We will accept apples from New Zealand but not those from J&K or onions from east Punjab. This would have looked good if we were seen as to be a burgeoning economy but with a begging bowl now an essential accompaniment on every executive abroad common-sense is aghast.

Relationships between nations in the post-modern world are multi-layered and need the nimbleness and suaveness in the leadership to negotiate the multiplexity.

Heck, we will permit Afghans to trade with India using our soil and means while we remain straitjacketed in sworn estrangement.

The World Students Society thanks Shahzad Chaudhry.