Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan cannot improve trade with India

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said Pakistan could not improve its trade with India. At the cost of the blood of the Kashmiris spilled by India. Stressing that any normalization with New Delhi under the current circumstances would be a major “betrayal” to the people of the occupied territory.

Interacting with the public in a live session, the prime minister said there was “no doubt” that there are benefits if relations with India improved. And trade and connectivity started, citing examples from other parts of the world. Such as the formation of the European Union which he said had benefitted all member countries.

“I tried since the first day after coming into power that we have friendly relations with India. And resolve the Kashmir issue. But considering the situation right now, if we normalize relations with India at this time we will be doing a major betrayal with the people of Kashmir,” Imran said.

He added that re-establishing ties at the moment would be equivalent to “ignoring all their struggle”.

“There is no doubt that our trade will improve but all their blood will be wasted, so this cannot happen,”. The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan stood with the Kashmiris. And is aware of the sacrifices of Kashmiris.

“So this cannot happen that our trade improves at the cost of their blood,” he said.

The prime minister added that talks could have happened and a roadmap to solve the Kashmir issue could be devised. If India took back its actions of August 5, 2019.

India had repealed Article 370 of its constitution on Aug 5 that year and thus revoked occupied Kashmir’s special autonomy. Pakistan had subsequently downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and then suspended bilateral trade with it.