India hopeful of Pakistan revoking ban on onion exports
By IANSFriday, January 7, 2011
NEW DELHI - With onion prices skyrocketing, India Friday said it was hopeful of resolving issues with Pakistan to resume import of onions from the neighbouring country.
“We are in touch with the government of Pakistan. We have initiated talks,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters here.
“Before not too long, we are hopeful that we will find a solution to this problem, thereby easing the pressure within our country for onions,” he added.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said: “The matter has been taken up with the government of Pakistan and we hope that it can be resolved.”
The government urged Islamabad Thursday to review its decision. “We have urged them (the authorities in Pakistan) that the contracted quantities, which were to come via the land route, should be released,” Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said.
Earlier this week, Pakistan stopped 300 trucks carrying the bulb to India via the Wagah border crossing after complaints that exports to India had caused a sharp spike in onion prices in Pakistan.
