. @myraemacdonald Pakistan hurts itself by seeing trade as a concession to India. Pakistan's economy needs the boost much more than India's.- @myraemacdonald That is possible. But it would hurt Pakistan's economy much more than India's. Trade is a win-win, not a favor to New Delhi.
- @myraemacdonald That's not true. Robust economic ties will create constituencies for peace on both sides.
- @myraemacdonald In short, both sides would benefit from more trade even if neither budged an inch on Siachen, Sir Creek or Kashmir.
- @myraemacdonald Not necessarily. Closer economic links may create conditions to break logjams. But old approach is a recipe for failure.
- @myraemacdonald Yes. But freezing trade hurts Pakistan more financially without giving it any more traction on territorial disputes.
- @myraemacdonald Would be good to resolve all disputes. Am merely pointing out the error in linking them with the low hanging fruit of trade.
- @myraemacdonald Key to the conundrum: both sides need to stop thinking of trade as a favor to the other. 1/2
@dhume01 You are right. When I did a piece i n1997 on 50 years of India-Pakistan and explored trade ties, I heard 1/x @myraemacdonald- @dhume01 this interesting story. When Karachi businessmen went to Zia asking for trade liberalisation w India 2/x @myraemacdonald
- @dhume01 Zia said no; he said he didn't want a fifth column within Pakistan - the business community Here's that piece 3/x @myraemacdonald
- @myraemacdonald The idea of linking economics with extraneous issues is Pakistani and is partly responsible for its parlous state. 1/2
@myraemacdonald @dhume01 indian media narrative stems from opposition's politics,bt in Pakistan its rooted in army defined security paradigm- @myraemacdonald If Pakistan outgrows this self-destructive way of thinking, it benefits along with India. If not, we're back to square one.
@saliltripathi Thanks. That's really useful. Want to write something on this so great to have your piece to refer to. @dhume01
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