Beijing, June 30

China today accused the US of ignoring facts over India not getting entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group and claimed that the plenary meeting of the elite grouping in Seoul did not discuss the accession of any specific country.China’s assertion came in response to the remarks by US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Tom Shannon yesterday that India failed to get entry into the NSG due to China-led opposition.Shannon had said one country could break consensus in the 48-nation atomic trading bloc and insisted that such member should be held accountable.“With regard to the US official’s comments on the NSG, we want to point out that this official shows no regard to facts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry official Hong Lei told the media.“In the plenary meeting in Seoul, India’s accession was not on the agenda of the meeting,” Hong said. — PTI

Our future is with India alone: Pak economist

Sarbjit Dhaliwal & Amaninder Pal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 30

Pakistan’s future lies only with India.This realisation has begun to dawn on the people of Pakistan, especially the trading community, said Prof S Akbar Zaidi, an eminent economist from Pakistan. Notwithstanding the Pathankot and Dinanagar incidents, there had been several positives in India-Pakistan ties, he said.“When I say that Pakistan’s future lies with India, it means politically, culturally, and economically and that also means in terms of trade,” said Prof Zaidi. He was at CRRID today to interact with scholars and retired and serving bureaucrats.“Yes, it is true that India is growing at a rapid pace, perhaps the fastest in the world. And Pakistan’s growth rate is 4.5 per cent. The gap between the two countries is widening. Therefore, it is imperative for Pakistan to think of ways to improve trade ties with India,” he said.Quoting dozens of studies, Prof Zaidi said there was a growing demand in Pakistan’s business community that bilateral trade with India should be improved further. “Even in the run-up to the federal elections, Nawaz Sharif had said during campaigning that he would improve ties with India. This had fetched him votes,” Prof Zaidi claimed.“I have read about 45 studies on India-Pakistan ties. Every survey, every study conducted in Pakistan advocates trade with India. Pakistan’s business community too wants trade with India,” he said, while pointing out that Indian films were doing big business in Pakistan.“Udta Punjab is being shown in all big cities. Most Indian films are released in Pakistan and India simultaneously. Your Bollywood heroes are our heroes. There is so much in common, but when it comes to exporting pens, pencils, potatoes and tomatoes, there is a huge problem,” said Prof Zaidi who has been to world’s top universities to deliver lectures.The executive vice-chairman of CRRID, Rashpal Malhotra, said his organisation was trying to bring India and Pakistan closer. “Earlier, there was talk of Punjab-to-Punjab ties. Now, it is about India-Pakistan ties,” he observed. Prof Ranjit Singh Ghuman, an expert on on India-Pakistan trade relations, said CRRID had done substantial work to promote friendship between the two countries.