Delegations meet in Kabul on Pak-Afghan trade, transit facilities

Kabul: During the two-day talks in Kabul, the delegations of Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to keep trade away from politics and keep people's interests in mind.

Agreeing on uninterrupted trade and transit relations in the negotiations, the delegations decided to finalize the 'Afghanistan Pakistan Transit Agreement' within two months.

Under the agreement, Pakistan will facilitate the transfer of goods from containers to regional containers at Karachi port.

In the preferential trade agreement between Pak-Afghan delegations, a temporary free permit for the movement of trucks was also agreed for one year which will come into effect from May 2024.

Under the agreement, it was also agreed to transfer goods in the form of multi-modal air transit through Pak-Afghan airports while it was decided to start multi-modal air transit in the next two months.

The agreement stated that Pakistan will terminate the condition of bank guarantee in one week for goods in transit from Afghanistan, as the former insurance will be considered sufficient.

The two delegations also agreed to take measures to remove other obstacles in mutual consultation while the delegations also agreed to refrain from border trade, establish and develop banking relations.

According to Afghan spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistan has expressed its willingness to buy coal at the international price.

The Pakistani delegation for the talks was headed by Deputy Minister of Commerce Muhammad Khurram Agha, while the Afghan delegation was led by Acting Minister of Commerce Nurud-din-Azizi.