SAFTA was launched in July 2006, but it did little to increase trade between India and Pakistan, which has barely developed since 1947, when the two countries fought the first of many trade – as well as real – wars against each other. In November 2008, after a group of terrorists attacked Mumbai, India’s financial center, India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack and suspended all dealings with its neighbor.
SAFTA于2006年7月正式启动，但在改善印巴双边贸易方面却收效甚微。 两国自1947年首次爆发贸易战（以及武装斗争）以来一直都纷争不断。2008年9月，印度金融中心孟买遭到了一伙恐怖分子的袭击，事后印度指责巴基斯坦参与此次袭击并断然终止了所有贸易往来。由于两国都无法消除数十年积累下来的仇恨和强烈敌意，全面对话活动也被束之高阁。