Pakistan-India Trade:

Amin Hashwani
there is ample reason for hope that civil society with time will play an
important role in the eventual resolution of all major outstanding issues.
Despite the slow pace of negotiations, the warmth and positive attitude
displayed by both sides during official meetings is extremely heartening.
It is perhaps sometimes wiser to proceed slowly and in a measured way
with concrete baby steps, in order to ensure that the progress made is
irreversible, while steering clear of any potential potholes that can jeopardize
this delicate process.
The PerCePTion ChallenGe: CaPTurinG The Minds of a
VulneraBle deMoGraPhY
Even in the current “information age,” misperceptions between nations
represent a global phenomenon. The Subcontinent is no exception.
In the last two decades, India, due to economic reforms in the early
1990s, has shifted from embracing a slow “Hindu” growth model to
becoming a robust economic powerhouse, on course to play a major
international role in the coming years. With a large base of a billionplus
population, it has attracted disproportionate attention internationally
among companies and countries as the place to do business.
Internationally, it has also begun to gain cultural and political influence.
Through “Shining India” and “Incredible India” campaigns and a host
of other initiatives, it has attempted to showcase itself as a historical empire
whose moment has once again arrived. This is in sharp contrast to
Pakistan’s development history. Until the 1960s, the nation served as
an economic role model for progress that other Asian countries tried to
emulate, but now grapples with a host of socioeconomic and geopolitical
problems stemming from a series of unfortunate (internal and external)
events that it is hard-pressed to cope with.
Perceptions of Pakistan in India
India is a large populous nation experiencing unprecedented growth,
and is in the process of redefining itself. Exceptional media attention
is given within India to its home-grown Bollywood stars, business titans,
and sports icons, not to mention political wrangling, corruption
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