Bilateral trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan drops by $2 billion

AVA- Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Zahidullah Shinwari has said the bilateral trade between the two countries reached to $500 million a year.

He said the trade volume between the two neighboring countries was $2.5 billion as he blamed the strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad behind the reducing trade volume between the two countries.

They also called on the relevant federal government officials to play their role in enhancing the Pak-Afghan trade.

Tensions between Kabul and Islamabad remains rife as the two countries often blame each other of remaining reckless to act against the terror groups using each other’s soil to plan and coordinate attacks.

The Afghan officials are saying that the Taliban and Haqqani network leaders are based in the key cities of Pakistan, including Quetta and Peshawar from where they plan and coordinate attacks in Afghanistan.

The US officials have also often criticized Pakistan for remaining reckless to act against the sanctuaries of the terror groups, specifically the Haqqani terrorist network.

However, Pakistan rejects the allegations and claim that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan use the Afghan soil to coordinate attacks in Pakistan.

On the other hand, the Afghan government has stepped up efforts to find alternative routes to gain access to international markets to boost trade as the key Chabahar Port in Iran started operations during the recent months besides Kabul and New Delhi have launched the air corridor to help Afghan traders gain access to international markets.