Pakistan's political analyst Najam Sethi praises India's trade deal with the US, contrasting it with Pakistan's dealings and noting India's assertive negotiation style.
The India-US trade deal has received commendations from Pakistan, particularly from political analyst Najam Sethi. He highlighted that while Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir seem to have been overly deferential to US President Donald Trump, India is pursuing negotiations assertively on its own terms. This perspective reflects a certain frustration within Pakistan regarding its own trade relationships and emphasizes a broader narrative of India's growing economic stature on the global stage.
The US White House has indicated that both nations are on track to finalize a bilateral trade agreement soon, following a preliminary deal that has already led to a significant reduction in tariffs from 50% to 18% for Indian goods. This landmark agreement is expected to unlock new opportunities for various sectors in India, including agriculture, entrepreneurship, MSMEs, startups, and fishing, thus further aiding India's economic growth following significant impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his comments, Najam Sethi underscored that India's negotiation tactic is rooted in dialogue rather than following orders, which he believes is a sign of India's commitment towards its own strategic interests. This commentary reflects a growing recognition in Pakistan of India's position in the global economy and underscores the challenges that Pakistan faces in redefining its own economic strategy in relation to powerful partners like the US.
