Pakistan expels Indian envoy, suspends trade
In a sign that relations between India and Pakistan could deteriorate further in the days to come, Islamabad on Wednesday expelled Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and said it would not be sending its high commissioner-designate to New Delhi.
Pakistan also downgraded its diplomatic ties with India, including suspending bilateral trade, over what it called New Delhi’s “unilateral and illegal” move to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K). New Delhi was yet to react to the developments at the time of filing this report.
In Washington, a Donald Trump administration official told PTI that the US appealed for an “urgent need” for dialogue among all actors to reduce tensions and avoid a potential military escalation in South Asia. The official said the Indian government “did not consult or inform the US government before moving to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special constitutional status”. “The US calls for calm and restraint on all sides, noting the history of violence and conflict in the region,” the official said.
TOP EXPORTS
Cotton, organic chemicals, plastics and goods made from it, tanning or dyeing extracts, machinery
TOP IMPORTS
Mineral fuels, edible fruits, nuts, salt, sulphur and plastering materials, mineral ores, raw hides and leather
Source : Commerce and industry ministry