ISLAMABAD: Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan resumed their bilateral trade after returning to normal following a temporary disruption caused by Islamabad’s introduction of a new visa requirement for commercial vehicle crews.
Initially, Pakistan’s enforcement of this rule halted commercial traffic on Tuesday, as Afghanistan reacted by refusing entry to any trucks without the necessary documentation.
An official from Pakistan’s customs department said that Afghanistan had suspended trade in response to Pakistan’s new regulation.
However, after discussions between officials from both countries, an agreement was reached. Pakistan agreed to grant a two-week extension for Afghan drivers, marking the third postponement of the new rule’s implementation.
The governor’s office in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province confirmed the resumption of cross-border trade, stating that discussions between Afghan and Pakistani officials had taken place with the assurance of a lasting resolution to the issue.
The strained relations between Kabul and Islamabad have intensified since Pakistan’s announcement in October to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants deemed to be residing illegally in the country. Around 340,000 Afghans have been deported or voluntarily returned so far.
Pakistan’s decision to only permit Afghans with passports and visas to enter the country contrasts with the previous practice of allowing entry based solely on national identity cards.
This change impacts landlocked Afghanistan significantly, as it heavily relies on imports from Pakistan for both local and foreign goods through Karachi port.
Pakistan contends that allowing duty-free entry for Afghan-bound goods leads to substantial financial losses amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Issues such as goods not reaching their destination and smuggling back into Pakistan contribute to these losses.
The mass deportation of illegal migrants by Pakistan is deemed crucial to safeguard its welfare and security, citing a surge in attacks attributed to militants operating from Afghanistan.
Conversely, Afghanistan’s Taliban government denies providing sanctuary to foreign militants and views Pakistan’s security concerns as a domestic matter.
