Leaders emphasize keeping trade separate from politics and ensuring routes remain open under all circumstances.
Trade leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan participate in a Zoom meeting via video conference to discuss bilateral trade. Photo: Facebook
Pakistani and Afghan traders have begun formal negotiations with a special focus on restoring bilateral trade, as part of efforts to ease months-long tensions and ensure the continuity of cross-border trade.
The meeting, held via video link, was jointly organized by the Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). According to a statement issued by the Khyber Chamber, authorities on both sides had formally allowed the business community to engage in dialogue, a move welcomed by participants as a positive step towards regional stability and continuity of trade.
The Pakistani side was led by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) patron-in-chief SM Tanveer, while the Afghan delegation was led by ACCI president Syed Karim Hashmi.
The participants agreed that negotiations would continue and the concerns and demands of traders from both countries would be conveyed to the relevant authorities. It was also decided that a joint committee would be formed to work towards the restoration and uninterrupted flow of trade.
Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been completely suspended since October and borders are closed. Traders noted that the current lockdown appeared more severe due to serious disagreements between the two sides and a lack of flexibility at the government level, prompting growing concern within business communities.
During the meeting, participants emphasized that the suspension of trade routes was affecting not only traders but also the general public in both countries, underlining the need to keep trade separate from political disputes.
Pakistani participants reiterated their position saying that Afghan territory should not be used for anti-Pakistan activities. Trade leaders assured that this position would be effectively communicated to the authorities in Islamabad.
In response, Afghan trade leaders emphasized that the sole agenda of their authorities was to completely separate trade from politics and ensure that trade routes remain open in all circumstances to promote economic stability in both countries. They stressed that economic cooperation should not be affected by any kind of tensions and that trade policies must remain coherent and predictable.
Ensuring the uninterrupted flow of goods, they said, is essential not only to sustain trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan but also to promote broader economic stability in the region. At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides agreed to convene another Zoom session in the coming days, through mutual consultation, to review progress and evaluate practical steps towards restoring trade.
Participants from both countries praised the role of FPCCI and Khyber Chamber of Commerce and Industry in facilitating the dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to present the agreed points to their respective authorities before the next round of talks.
