New Delhi, March 29
For the first time in six decades, commerce is set to become equal partner of diplomacy in India-Pakistan relations and tea and basmati rice are going to redefine relations between the two neighbours.

The new template of Indo-Pak relations envisages greater thrust on bilateral trade and commerce — a far cry from not-too-old Pakistani stand of Kashmir-first-trade-later. The two countries are also set to have increased sea trade and air links between them.

Concrete indications to this effect were available at the end of the two-day third round of the talks between Pakistan and India on economic and commercial cooperation, which concluded in Islamabad today.

It was emphasised at the commerce secretary-level talks that the new shipping agreement would be signed in the near future here and the talks on the air services agreement would be concluded expeditiously.

Both countries have agreed to constitute a working group to discuss the issues relating to joint registration of basmati rice (SGI).

Diplomatic observers here see it as a big step forward in Indo-Pak ties. Their aspiration to have the cover of the Intellectual Property Rights by joint registration of basmati rice marks the beginning of the two neighbours joining hands on multilateral fora for protecting such regional indicators as basmati rice. The move is not unlike the wine growers of Champagne coming together to register their wine as Champagne and distinguish it from sparkling wines. As a result, Champagne wine growers are the biggest beneficiaries.

In another bilateral trade-related breakthrough, Pakistan has agreed to import tea from India, which is the world’s largest producer of the commodity. As of today, Pakistan gets bulk of its tea imports from such far-away lands as Kenya.