Pakistan-India Trade:

Amin Hashwani
who are generally seen as warm, hospitable, and seeking better relations
with India. This excellent chemistry is quite visible on any occasion
when the people of the two countries meet.
With the opening up of trade, one can expect a gradual improvement
in the relationship between the two countries. It will increase the
level of interaction between business communities, offer cheaper goods
and raw materials to consumers and industries, and create many other
unforeseen and unintended interdependencies. Easing the visa regime
to increase people-to-people interactions and allowing more media personnel
to be stationed in each country would create a more positive
bias. (A new visa agreement concluded in September 2012 offers hope.)
Tourism still remains a significant untapped industry that can catalyze
dramatic economic and social dividends.
Already, books by Pakistani authors are available in Indian book
stores (this was not the case earlier). Pakistani pop groups, which have
a large following in India, are being allowed to perform in India more
frequently. And, slowly but surely, regular exchanges between lawmakers,
businessmen, and professionals are changing the dynamics of this
relationship. The Aman Ki Asha is a peace initiative between the biggest
media group in each of the two countries, the Times of India and the Jang
Group. It has brought together stakeholders in arts, culture, business,
and civil society to explore avenues of cooperation and to undertake
initiatives for peaceful coexistence. It focuses on areas where the two
governments have failed, either due to lack of will or capacity, to deliver
on promises for a peaceful region. The movement has been widely
supported by the public in both countries, and also acknowledged by
the international community as one of the most significant movements
for peace launched in the two countries to this point. In the two-plus
years since its launch, it has had a dramatic effect in changing public discourse,
linking various stakeholders, and dispelling misperceptions that
have lingered for decades. Eventually, if joint ventures and investments
are allowed into each country, they could plant the seeds of peace and
sprout lobbies that create and sustain mutual interests in the long run,
and cushion any negative impacts that may arise from future challenges
or unfortunate incidents.
In conclusion, while there are misperceptions about Pakistan as a
nation and society, the spontaneous positive chemistry at person-to-
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