Pak-India trade talks postponed

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI (Agencies) - India has postponed secretary-level talks on trade with Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai carnage.
The talks were to be held this month. The Indian government took the decision into this respect followed by Mumbai carnage in which Pakistan is being blamed, Indian TV channel reported on Friday.
On the other hand, Secretary Trade Pakistan Asif Ali Shah while talking to mediamen confirmed postponement of bilateral talks between Pakistan and India on trade by the Indian government. He said Pakistan had invited India on trade talks in Islamabad but no final conformation was given by New Delhi.
Pakistani traders while expressing surprise over postponing of trade talks by India with Pakistan made it clear it would have negative impact on India because bilateral trade between both countries is much favour in India. India imports edible items and commodities to Pakistan worth of Rs 2 billion annually while Pakistan's export target is only Rs 400 million annually.
"The talks are on hold till the atmosphere is conducive for such an engagement. It's not possible to carry on the dialogue in this atmosphere," highly-placed sources in Indian govt told IANS, indicating New Delhi's exasperation with the lack of an adequate response from Islamabad to its demarche. "If the atmosphere it not right, how can we carry on the dialogue. The atmosphere has been vitiated," Indian sources added.