President’s Sulemanki trade route proposal raises eyebrows

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

http://images.thenews.com.pk/24-04-2012/ethenews/t-14128.htm

ISLAMABAD: Responding to a statement made by President Asif Ali Zardari in Okara last week suggesting that the government ìseriously considerî the proposal of opening up trade with India through Head Sulemanki on the Indo-Pak border therein connecting Multan with New Delhi, DG ISPR General Athar Abbas on Monday firmly said that the issue was not under consideration.

Speaking to The News, DG ISPR General Athar Abbas negated the presidentís call to resuscitate the old trading route by saying, "This issue is not under consideration."

President Zardari’s proposal has left many in the civil and military bureaucracy scratching their heads in disbelief. The reason seem to be obvious — it was this very government which had debated the proposal three years ago and had come to the conclusion in 2009 that given the strategic importance of the Sulemanki Headworks on the Sutlej River, this was not a viable option.

This raises the question of why President Zardari suggested that the ancient and historic land route between India and Pakistan be opened. While the GHQ has undoubtedly given the green signal to soften ties with India, allowing trade through a "strategic" area is a different matter altogether.

However, the response from the GHQ suggests that all stakeholders were not taken into confidence with regard to the presidentís statement in Okara.

According to National Assembly records, on March 12 2009 Khurram Jehangir Wattoo asked the then Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi whether there was any proposal to open a new route through Head Sulemanki with India for trade purposes. The government was not ready for such a move and Mukhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that such a proposal of opening a new route with India for trade purposes had been examined and views were sought from the concerned departments and ministries.

“After thoroughly examining the inputs/views received, it was decided that opening of Pakistan-India border at Head Sulemanki is not a viable option,” Qureshi had stated on the floor. “The proposal was examined in consultations with Ministry of Interior, Commerce and other relevant departments. In the light of the inputs received and in view of the strategic importance of the Headworks, it was decided that it was not a viable option.”

This then begs the question ñ is Zardari simply attempting to score brownie points with voters in Okara by hinting at lucrative trade which would greatly benefit the locals? Or is this is another one of his proposals like the earlier one of offering India "no first strike," after which he ate humble pie as the military bureaucracy put its foot down?