Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to take a number of steps to promote trade and business relations including Kabul’s exports to India via Wahga border with no restrictions.
This was stated in a joint statement issued following the three-day talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Kabul. Both countries agreed to continue efforts to facilitate the people including quick clearance of commodities as well as a luxury bus service, which would be launched by the end of August.
According to the joint statement, the Pakistani delegation, led by Commerce Secretary Muhammad Sualeh Ahmed Faruqui, has assured Kabul that exports from Afghanistan to India via Wahga border will have no restrictions. Officials of different ministries were also included in the Pakistani delegation.
The Afghan delegation was led by Trade and Industry Minister Nooruddin Azizi and acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in the talks that started on July 18.
Strict implementation of Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement, signed in 2010 and expired in October 2017, was assured by the Pakistani delegation. Former Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, had banned the entry of Pakistani vehicles into Afghanistan after the expiry of the agreement.
The joint statement has stated that the problems faced by people of both sides, especially importers and exporters, merchants and entrepreneurs would be resolved by making improvement in bilateral trade and transit. It said that the gained momentum of trade and bilateral relations in the current year would be sustained and further strengthened.
More efficient border entry points were decided with increased operational timings particularly at Torkham, Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan and Chaman/Spin Boldak. Bilateral trade vehicles would be permitted temporary admission documents for free movement.
A luxury bus service on two routes i.e. Peshawar-Jalalabad and Quetta-Kandahar was decided by the delegations.
