India to allow direct foreign investment from Pakistan

The past year has brought a series of initiatives that suggest the two countries are rebuilding relations.

In June, Pakistan released more than 300 Indian fishermen detained for fishing in disputed waters.

The Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh is expected to visit Pakistan in November – the first such visit since 2004.

And the Pakistan cricket team is due to tour India later this year for the first time since the Mumbai attacks.

While some observers say the two countries remain far apart on crucial questions such as Kashmir, division of water resources and prosecuting those behind the Mumbai attacks, others believe the small steps are creating goodwill that could eventually help solve the big issues.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph before the announcement, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, European Union ambassador to Islamabad, said he was optimistic things were moving the right direction.

“We are all taught to be sceptical and cynical. They have been to war three times, there is so much intransigence on both sides over borders,” he said.

“But something has changed in the last year and a half. On the side of Pakistan there is a growing realisation that they need to engage more, particularly on trade but also in terms of people to people contact.”

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes