New Delhi - India stressed Wednesday that a “precondition” for moving forward in its bilateral engagement with Pakistan was peace and tranquillity on the border.
The statement by Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin comes ahead of a bilateral meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz and Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid next week on the sidelines of the Nov 11-12 Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of foreign ministers in Gurgaon (India), Indian media reported.
Akbaruddin said the issues to be discussed at the meeting would “flow from the meeting” held between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in New York Sept 29. “There was one outcome of the meeting — the precondition for moving ahead — peace and tranquillity on the Line of Control (LoC). They (Khurshid and Aziz) will assess where they are. That will be the basis of further discussion,” the spokesperson said.
He also confirmed that Aziz had sought a meeting with the prime minister.
India is likely to raise its concerns over the spike in infiltrations into Indian territory from Pakistan and the rise in ceasefire violations.
TOMATO EXPORTS TO PAKISTAN SHOULD BE BANNED: TRADERS
Traders in Indian Punjab said tomato exports to Pakistan via Attari-Wagha land route should be banned.
“Government of India should stop export of tomatoes to Pakistan via Attari-Wagha land route for some days in order to curb spiralling prices of this commodity in the wake of lower supplies,” Amritsar-based Federation of Dry Fruits and Karyana Association President Anil Mehra told PTI.
Traders said though Indian exporters will lose some business if tomato export is banned, but it will help in bringing down the prices of the commodity at several places in the country.
Notably, tomatoes are ruling at Rs 60-65 per kg at several places, including Punjab and Chandigarh.
About 40-50 trucks laden with tomatoes are crossing over to Pakistan via Attari-Wagha land route every day in the wake of poor crop output in Pakistan.
“It is for the first time that wholesale prices of tomatoes in Pakistan have crossed Rs 100 per kg as the country faced a huge shortfall in tomatoes’ production this season,” said Mehra, who is also an importer and exporter.
“Only hotels and big restaurants are buying tomatoes at a very high prices in Pakistan,” he said.