India and Pakistan business meet put off over security

New Delhi: A two-day meeting of business leaders from India and Pakistan, which was slated to begin in Delhi from November 30, has been deferred due to security concerns raised by the neighbouring country.

Sources in the Pakistan High Commission were cited as telling that the members of the delegation have raised concerns regarding the security issues keeping in view the controversy around shows by Pakistani ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali.

The Pakistani delegation had sought an assurance from the Indian government for the safety of their members during their visit here, but did not get any response in this regard from the Indian side as the leaders were making the visit on CII’s invitation, the Pakistani sources were further cited as saying.

“The India-Pakistan Joint Business Forum meeting was scheduled for the end of this month. But it has been deferred. It may happen after a few months now,” an industry source was quoted  as saying.

Recently, a music concert of Ghulam Ali was cancelled in Mumbai after protests by the Shiv Sena. Later the Aam Aadmi Party government invited the singer to Delhi. But finally that didn’t materialise.

Sensing a possible agitation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) in October had also pulled out Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar from the India-South Africa ODI match to be played in Mumbai.

In the forum, business leaders take stock of the progress in all sectors of bilateral trade. It has identified ten areas of cooperation including agriculture, automotive and engineering, chemical, infrastructure etc.

 

 

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