Pakistan to give MFN status to India in December 2012; says Hina

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on Wednesday said Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status would be given to India by December 2012, adding it will help in strengthening the country’s economy.

While speaking to a private TV channel, the foreign minister said India will automatically get the MFN status when trade relations become normalize between the two neighboring states. She observed, “We steadfastly followed the course of action approved by the cabinet”.

In reply to a query about cricket diplomacy and if the Foreign Office (FO) was playing any role in reestablishing cricketing relationships between Pakistan and India, she commented that the FO was intervening in this matter as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) felt they were not receiving the suitable answer.

About the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, the minister reiterated that no pressure would be tolerated in this regard. She informed that Parliament would decide the matter regarding resumption of NATO supply line, clarifying that no decision has been taken hitherto.

Khar said that Parliament could brush aside the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) about new terms of engagement with United States after the Salala check-post attack.

She underscored that they want to build a mutual relationship with the Washington which has the ownership of Pakistani people.

In her view, it will work for both sides in a way that is respectful of Pakistani sovereignty.

She asserted, “I don’t think it’s a matter of grievance as much as it is about a matter of building a type of partnership which is lasting, which has the ownership of the people of Pakistan, and of course the parliament of Pakistan”.

Her remarks came as the parliament commenced reviewing the foreign policy in light of the recommendations of the parliamentary committee, which the White House sees as critical to future tasks.

The Foreign Minister was of the opinion that the relationships between the two countries should be able to “achieve results which are considered to be in the joint interest of both Pakistan and the United States and of course the NATO members, who are operating in Afghanistan”.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Mar 22 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.