Islamabad: The Pakistan Army has expressed
its reservations over the civilian government's move to grant
Most Favoured Nation-status to India and conveyed its concern
to the administration at the highest level, BBC Urdu reported
on Monday.
A senior official privy to the Army's interaction with
the government on the issue told BBC that military leaders had
said the new contacts with India should be viewed in the
context of the situation in Afghanistan.
"Military officials are of the opinion that MFN-status
for India is not in line with Pakistan's security policy in
Afghanistan," the official was quoted as saying.
Military officials had advised the political leadership
not to act in haste in trade relations with India, BBC quoted
its sources as saying.
The powerful military establishment, which guides
Islamabad's defence and foreign affairs, believes Pakistan and
India would be in competition for trading opportunities after
the US withdraws its troops from Afghanistan, the report said.
Pakistan's cabinet recently approved a proposal to
normalise trade relations with India.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other leaders have
said the move will ultimately lead to the giving of MFN-status
to India.
Hardline religious and extremist groups, including the
Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat-ud-Dawah, have opposed the move to
give MFN-status to India and organised protests on the issue.
PTI
First Published: Monday, November 21, 2011, 23:22