MFN status to improve trade, ties between India, Pak: US

Welcoming Pakistan's decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, the US on Monday said the step would help in enhancing trade and improving relations between the two countries.

Welcoming Pakistan's decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, the US on Monday said the step would help in enhancing trade and improving relations between the two countries.

HT Image

"I think anything that promotes commerce between the two nations is a good thing. This is especially true between India and Pakistan. I am happy to see this," US Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez said while commenting on the decision of Pakistan to grant MFN status to India.

The Pakistani government had last week decided to grant the MFN status to India, but later gave confusing signals by saying it was only a move for normalisation of bilateral trade relations that will "culminate" with MFN.

"I do believe that more commerce between the two nations (will increase) prospects for positive and peaceful relations," the visiting US official told reporters here.

India had granted Pakistan MFN status way back in 1996, but Islamabad had refrained from reciprocating due to opposition from some trade lobbies and religious and hardline political parties.