Thaindian News

Cannes, Nov 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday welcomed Pakistan granting the Most Favoured Nation status to India after a 17-year wait, but said it needs to be watched if this was an indication of a changed mindset.

“Better late than never. I welcome it,” Manmohan Singh said at a press conference in this French coastal resort that hosted the G20 summit, when asked for a response to Pakistan’s decision to grant MFN status to India.

“As one who believes that, rightly or wrongly, the destinies of countries in south Asia are very closely linked, I welcome the decision of Pakistan to grant us the most favoured nation treatment,” he said, noting that it should have come a long time ago.

“I think it is nearly 17 years ago when India gave Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan unilaterally and Pakistan has taken so much time,” he said, adding: “If this is a reflection of a new change…a new mindset…I welcome it…we have to watch.”

The prime minister, however, noted that Pakistan’s decision was a reflection of SAARC trade efforts under which countries in the region could work to realise their growth potential together.

Pakistan’s cabinet Wednesday decided to grant MFN status to India, but hours later it sent out confusing signals on the matter. However, it did acknowledge that the move would facilitate normalisation of bilateral trade relations.

India granted Pakistan such a status way back in 1996. Islamabad, however, had not felt the need to reciprocate the treatment, mainly due to opposition from domestic trade lobbies and religious and hardline political parties, which argued that such a step would harm the nation’s position on Kashmir.

–Indo-Asian news Service
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