The United States has urged India and Pakistan to hold direct talks, reported Dawn. The comment came in response to a question posed on Pakistan’s decision of reversing the import of sugar and cotton from India. 

“I wouldn’t want to comment on that specifically. What I would say is that we continue to support direct dialogue between India and Pakistan on issues of concern,” Ned Price, the spokesperson of the US State Department, was quoted as saying by Dawn. 

Also, on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed the progress in India-Pakistan ties.  

Earlier in August 2019, Pakistan suspended bilateral trade with India when the latter rescinded the special constitutional rights of  Jammu and Kashmir.

However, on March 31, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) announced allowing the private sector to import 0.5 million tons of white sugar from India. The committee also approved another proposal to import cotton from India starting June this year.

But, a day later, on April 1, Pakistan’s federal cabinet deferred the ECC’s decision to allow imports from India until New Delhi revokes Article 370 of its Constitution, which guaranteed a semi-autonomous status for Jammu and Kashmir.