June 26, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, June 25: Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood has expressed his ignorance about reports of the crossing over of a convoy of 50 Indian buses into Pakistan, through Wagah border on their way to Afghanistan about a month back, despite the termination of diplomatic and communications channels by India.

“I am totally unaware (of Indian coaches crossing into Pakistan), and would definitely look into it”, said the minister at a news conference on Tuesday.

He was asked why Pakistani authorities allowed Indian coaches to go all the way from Wagah to Kabul while India had closed all means of communications and trade with Pakistan.

Gohar Ayub Khan, former foreign minister told Dawn that saw 50 or so Indian buses of Tata company coming from Lahore five weeks ago. “I was surprised to see the convoy because I knew Pakistan could not import buses from India. But on enquiry, I was told that the buses were going to Afghanistan,” he said.

India had severed all trade and communication links, including railway and air, with Pakistan a couple of months back after accusing Pakistan of cross-border infiltration.

Early last month, the commerce minister had told an Afghan trade delegation that it could not allow transportation of Indian goods through Wagah border to Afghanistan unless relations between Islamabad and New Delhi improved.

Pakistan had also refused permission to WFP to be able to transport Indian wheat through Pakistan to Afghanistan, saying it was infested with diseases and could damage Pakistani produce.

Commerce ministry officials suggest that the suspension of trade and communication links between Pakistan and India were causing financial losses to both India than Pakistan.

To another question, the commerce minister said that he received telephone calls from India asking if Pakistan had provided any new trade facilities to India in its budget 2002-03 because they were receiving inquiries from abroad.