KARACHI: Talks to resolve the trade deadlock between Bharat and Pakistan continued for the second day in Karachi on Thursday [April 20] when the representatives of the two governments discussed the outstanding issues for six hours. Though no official announcement was made regarding the outcome of the trade talks, knowledgeable circles stated that further progress was made in yesterday’s discussion in spite of a few complicated problems which cropped up during the conference.

The same sources believed that the present talks are aimed at a short-term arrangement and do not envisage any general long-term agreement on the resumption of trade … as the question of the exchange ratio is undecided. It was however, stated that once a basis of trade acceptable to both the Governments is found … the working out of the details will not take much time.

[Meanwhile, according to the staff correspondent,] Mrs Indra Gandhi, daughter of the Prime Minister of Bharat Mr Jawaharlal Nehru, will accompany [her] father on his two-day visit to Karachi… . According to the tentative schedule Mr Nehru will arrive at the airport at 11 a.m.… .

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2025