India and Pakistan have been at odds throughout their histories.
Will tea prove to be a healer? Recent developments seem to indicate as much.
A visit by an Indian tea delegation to Pakistan seems to getting off on the right foot. And this year, India plans to export about 25 million kilos of tea to it’s north-western neighbor, up from about 14 million kilos last year.
Strong economic ties are a good way to smooth over political tensions in the neighborhood. Heck, we’re even partnering with China over tea now, which makes we wonder if we’re headed back to the bonhomie of the old “Hindi Chini Bhai Bhai” (India and China are brothers) slogan?
Starkly different political systems notwithstanding, it certainly appears that stronger business ties (with a cup of tea or two thrown in for good measure) will do a lot to strengthen regional relationships. A step in the right direction, at the very least.
