Caretaker Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has emphasized thatthe restoration of trade ties between Islamabad and New Delhi hinges uponthe resolution of the longstanding Kashmir dispute. He expressed hiscountry’s willingness to collaborate as a partner in the event that Indiatakes steps to address this issue. This statement underscores thedeep-rooted tensions that have persisted between India and Pakistan overKashmir.
The conflict in the region has its origins in the events of August 2019when India revoked the semi-autonomous status of the part of Kashmir itcontrols, effectively dividing it into two federally administeredterritories. Since their independence from British rule in 1947, theMuslim-majority Himalayan region has been a contentious point of contentionbetween these two neighbors. Both countries govern portions of theHimalayan territory while claiming it in its entirety, resulting in two oftheir three wars being fought over this disputed region.
In a televised interview with Pakistan’s Geo News channel, Kakar stressedthat trade normalization between these neighboring arch-rivals is currentlyunattainable due to the unresolved Kashmir situation. He clarified thatwhile Kashmir remains central to their concerns, the objective is notperpetual conflict with India but rather a peaceful resolution. Kakar alsoexpressed concerns about the potential consequences of a lack of peace inSouth Asia, affecting global stability, and highlighted Pakistan’sreadiness to act as a “willing partner” if India takes democratic measuresto address the Kashmir issue.
