External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed key issues regarding India’s trade relations with Pakistan and the robust partnership with the United States during a press conference in Washington, D.C.
Jaishankar clarified that India did not halt trade with Pakistan; instead, it was Islamabad that decided to discontinue trading in 2019.
“We did not stop trading. Their administration made the decision in 2019 to not continue trading with us,” he stated.
He also highlighted India’s concerns regarding the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status. While India extended MFN status to Pakistan, the gesture was not reciprocated by Islamabad.
“Our concern about this issue was from the beginning that we should get MFN status. We used to give this status to Pakistan, but they did not give it to us,” Jaishankar noted.
The minister emphasized that no recent discussions or initiatives on trade have occurred from either side.
Turning to India’s relationship with the United States, Jaishankar underscored the mutual trust and convergence of interests between the two nations.
“We have a very strong degree of trust today between India and the United States, a very high level of convergence of our interests,” he remarked.
He highlighted a shared commitment to national interests while collaborating on regional and global issues.
“There is a sense that while we serve our national interest and build our bilateral partnership, there is a lot of good that we can do together.”
Jaishankar also noted that discussions emphasized being “bolder, bigger, and more ambitious” in bilateral ties.
Jaishankar represented India at the inaugural ceremony of President Donald Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20. The minister carried a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for President Trump, symbolizing the commitment to deepening India-US ties.
The discussions and gestures underscore India’s efforts to navigate complex geopolitical landscapes while fostering strategic partnerships.