New Delhi, August 8: Pakistan announced on Wednesday it will end diplomatic ties with India and sends back Indian High Commissioner, Ajay Bisaria, in Islamabad, putting forth a five-point plan including suspension of bilateral trade system and an end to the bilateral and diplomatic relations, hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s move to unilaterally scrap Article 370 and end special status for Jammu and Kashmir, splitting it into two union territories.
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The government of Pakistan, which claims some region of Kashmir, stated it would summon its own diplomat chiefs based in New Delhi.
In an official statement released by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan-headed, national security committee, said India’s decision regarding Kashmir would be in place because of the “illegal actions” taken by the Indian government in place which has a Muslim majority.
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Khan denounced Modi, accusing BJP party of encouraging “an ideology that puts Hindus above all other religions and seeks to establish a state that represses all other religious groups.”
The statement from the committee stated India’s scrapping Article 370 would be raised by the Pakistan government with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which refers to Kashmir as a disputed region.
“Pursuant to the decision of the National Security Committee today, the Government of India has been told to withdraw its High Commissioner to Pakistan. The Indian Government has also been informed that Pakistan will not be sending its High Commissioner-designate to India,” a statement by the Pak Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Speaking of 73rd Independence Day of Pakistan, the government statement said, “Independence Day this 14 August to be observed in solidarity with brave Kashmiris and their just struggle for their right of self-determination. 15th August will be observed as Black Day.”
Moreover, the bilateral trade ties – accumulates value at several billion dollars annually, and ending diplomatic ties, Pakistan officials threatened to shut the nation’s airspace to the Indian aircraft. The statement urged all bilateral deals would be reviewed.
However, it is not clear when Islamabad would begin enforcing it promising retaliatory measures.
Moreover, Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan H.E Shukrullah Atif Mashal calls on Advisor to the PM on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood to deliberate on trade-related issue in order to enhance bilateral trade.
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Alyssa Ayres, a top official for South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington DC, said suspending trade ties usual and unprecedented, move by the Pakistan government, though its caused effect would be muted.
“This will not frankly have any economic impact on either country,” she said, underling trade ties between India and Pakistan was still relatively low. “But under any circumstances, I’d rather see diplomatic and symbolic steps like these than terrorism.”
Before announcing the measures, science and technology minister Fawad Chaudhury, delivering a speech in the Pakistani parliament, termed India as a “fascist regime”, stating another war with India over Kashmir was not off the options.
“Pakistan should not let Kashmir become another Palestine,” Chaudhry said. “We have to choose between dishonor and war.”
The UN said it was “deeply concerned” that India’s move on Kashmir will “exacerbate the human rights situation in the region”. “The fact that hardly any information at all is currently coming out is of great concern in itself,” a spokesperson for UN said
Following Khan’s meeting with the nation’s national security committee, Pakistan listed down the steps of its five-point plan in a tweet.
“1-Downgrading of diplomatic relations with India. 2-Suspension of bilateral trade with India. 3-Review of bilateral arrangements. 4-Matter to be taken to UN, including the Security Council. 5-14th of August to be observed in solidarity with brave Kashmiris,” the tweet read.
The nation’s top military and civil leadership had attended the meeting, according to a statement issued by Khan’s office said.
The announcement comes a day after Khan cautioned the Indian move will have “some repercussions”. Hours after India’s union home minister Amit Shah in the parliament said all of the J&K including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was an “integral part” of India, Khan spoke of retaliation.
“They (India) will do something in PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir)… we will retaliate… Will fight till last drop of blood,” Khan stated during a joint gathering of Pakistan parliament.
China, a close ally of Pakistan, has also opposed India’s move to end the special status for J&K through a presidential order, warning India should prevent “unilaterally” changing the status quo in Kashmir, expressing opposition to terming Ladakh a separate union territory.
India dismissed Chinese claim, stating it was “an internal matter concerning the territory of India”.”India does not comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise,” the foreign ministry said.
“Trade was practically closed for sometime. So, there will be no impact especially on agricultural products,” said an official.
In the1st quarter of the FY20, the exports of Indian goods to Pakistan were $452.5 million and imports were about $7.13 million. In the FY19, the total Indian exports to Pakistan were $2.06 billion, whereas the imports were $495 million.
Director-General of federal of Indian export organization, Ajay Sahai, said, “The suspension of trade relations will hit Pakistan more as our exports to them have a very limited profile because they did not give us MFN status and violated global trade rules.”
India’s major export items are natural synthetic substances, cotton, plastics, and colors, while imports are products of the soil nuts, and mineral energies. Export of tomatoes to Pakistan had ceased quite a while in the past.
Sahai clarified that such products have a prepared market in South Asia and Middle East which will empower India to redirect such fares quickly absent much expense.
“This is a unilateral move and a unilateral loss,” said Mohit Singla, chairman, Trade Promotion Council of India.
A Delhi-based exporter said that exchange through Dubai stays open.
Nonetheless, Sahai included that shipments in the pipeline will endure a shot and it isn’t certain whether the products in travel or lying at the ports would be reviewed in such a falling apart circumstance.