LAHORE – Calling for removing non-tariff barriers between India andPakistan, the Indian envoy here said on Friday both the countries need toshun violence and normalise relations in order to take the two-way trade to$30 billion from the present $5 billion.

Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria, addressing the LahoreChamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) here, also said that there is nobetter way of improving bilateral relations than mutually beneficialeconomic ties.

He said mutual relations between the two countries should be built on thebasis of trade and economy, and violence and war should not be an option.

Bisaria’s statement came at a time when relations between the twonuclear-power neighbours are at a low amid heightened tensions followingclaims and counter-claims by both the countries about harassment of eachother’s diplomats.

The Indian High Commissioner also said that India and Pakistan should havethe future different from the past and must not carry the burden of history.

“Both Pakistan and India need to take more steps to remove non-tariffbarriers that are a major impediment to bilateral trade relations.

“We should not talk about negative and positive lists rather we should workon the windows of opportunities. At present, over USD 5 billion trade isbeing done through third country but after removal of non-tariff barriers,liberalisation of visa and normalisation of mutual relations, the two-waytrade could touch a high USD 30 billion,” he said.

Stressing that both India and Pakistan could cater to each other if theyutilise youths, Bisaria said that two-third population of India is belowthe age of 35 and same is the case in Pakistan where 65 per cent populationis under the age of 35.

“Chambers of the commerce and industry of both the countries are importantlobby as not only they can play an instrumental role in strengtheningmutual trade and economic ties but also influence the policy makers,” hesaid.

LCCI President Malik Tahir Javaid said at present an unfavourable scenariohas developed both at political and diplomatic fronts.

“We have been witnessing time and again that first there is a trustdeficit, then some joint efforts are made for trust building, then someincident happens and we end up yet again at trust deficit. One such(terror) incident must not halt the process of relation building. Bothcountries should give the peace another chance to prevail in the region forour youth and coming generations,” he said.

Pakistan and India need to show a lot of maturity and act very sensibly, headded.