January 19, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 28, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: India on Thursday held Pakistan responsible for under-performance of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) and said the regional bloc could not exploit its full potential due to Islamabad’s reluctance to accord New Delhi the status it was committed to.

In his first ever interaction with media here at the South Asian Free Media Association (Safma) media centre, the Indian high commissioner in Pakistan, Satyabrata Pal, regretted that India was still awaiting grant of Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status even after the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (Safta).

The agreement came into effect on January 1, 2006, with the aim of reducing tariffs for intra-regional trade among the seven Saarc members. Pakistan and India are to complete implementation by 2012.

The Indian high commissioner said his country considered Pakistan an important neighbour and wanted it to become its strategic partner. He said there were many areas where India had the edge and there was some where India could build on Pakistan’s strings.

He cited the example of agriculture and textile sectors where Pakistan could gain a lot as a result of cooperation with India.

Answering a question, he said Kashmir was a challenge that needed to be addressed but observed that relations between the two countries must not be allowed to be held hostage by a specific political problem.

He said talks between the two countries were on track and hoped that the disputes bedevilling the relations between the two countries would be resolved through peaceful means sooner than later.

Asked if the tirade of allegations against Islamabad that keep on emanating from New Delhi can serve any purpose, he held media responsible for creating hype and said: “when we have something to say, we talk to our counterparts in Pakistan”.

When his attention was drawn towards the statement of BSF spokesman accusing Pakistan of committing ceasefire violation, he said: “The purpose was to express concern and not to point scores”.

He, however, said he could say more than that on it till he got details from New Delhi.

Responding to another question, he said India was committed to Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project. “The negotiation are going on and the project is still alive,” he remarked.

He, however, said different aspects of the project had to be taken in view.

He did not offer any direct comment on Pakistan’s plan to mine its border with Afghanistan, but said as far as India’s policy was concerned it would not abandon the right to use landmines as means of defence.

He said civil bureaucracy and military establishment in India could not thwart what political government determined that had to be done.