ISLAMABAD, June 30: A large delegation of Pakistani businessmen begins a nine-day visit to India on Tuesday, taking advantage of a thaw between the two nations.

Its leader, Ilyas Bilour, said on Monday that trade relations between the two countries should not be held hostage by the political disputes between them.

“All issues (between Pakistan and India) are core and need to be settled through negotiation without overlapping. We see that the Kashmir issue is not sidelined by having good trade ties with India,” Mr Bilour told dpa.

Ilyas Bilour, a former president of the FPCCI, was hopeful about the outcome of the India visit because “leaders of both the countries are sincere in improving relations by resolving all issues including Kashmir.”

About 100 members of the delegation will take a roundabout route to fly to New Delhi because direct air link was severed during last year’s military stand-off between the two nations but another 50 members will be able to cross the border on foot because they are members of the regional Saarc Chamber of Commerce.—dpa