ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s commerce ministry clarified on Wednesday there was no change in the country’s trade policy toward India which was restricted after New Delhi revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.

Pakistan approved the appointment of trade minister to its high commission in the neighboring country this week, inviting criticism from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party which had kept the post vacant while ruling the country.

“The Post of Minister (Trade and Investment) in New Delhi exists for more than two decades and has no connection with the operationalization of trade with India or otherwise in the current context,” the ministry said in a statement.

It added the appointment should not be “seen in the context of any relaxation of trade restrictions” toward India.

Earlier, Pakistan’s former foreign minister and a PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi told the media the government’s decision to approve the appointment amounted to normalizing trade with India and had hurt the sentiments of Kashmiri people.

The ministry revealed, however, that the “current cycle for selection of Trade and Investment Officers (TIOs) including [in] New Delhi was initiated in December, 2021, and the final recommendations of the Interview Board were sent to Prime Minister’s Office on 01-04-2022 i.e. during [the tenure of the] previous Government.”

“The present Government has given the final approval on the recommendations of previous Government for selection of 15 TIOs,” it added.

Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought several wars over the disputed region of Kashmir. The two countries claim its territory in full, though they only control parts of it.

Pakistan not only suspended trade with India but also downgraded its diplomatic ties with the neighboring country after August 2019.