The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) this week held a webinar titled “Pak-Afghan Economic Ties”, with the participation of current and former officials of the two countries.

At the virtual meeting, the former ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said that one of the challenges to the economic ties between the two nations is the current political situation in Afghanistan, which the international community has not yet recognized the country.

“While recognition is a long-term legal process, economic sanctions don’t make sense because they are hurting the people of Afghanistan and the region,” said Ahmad Khan.  

Sardar Ahmad Khan Shakib, Afghanistan’s ambassador to Pakistan, said that Afghanistan’s economic relations with Pakistan have increased compared to the past, and the minor problems that exist in this field are nothing to worry about.

“Fortunately, since the foreign policy of the new government of Afghanistan is economy-oriented, it has focused a lot on trade, transit and regional connectivity during the last year,” he said.

According to him, Afghanistan and Pakistan are good business partners in the region and economic relations between the two countries have expanded compared to the past.

Meanwhile, some participants of the meeting emphasized bilateral trade, joint investment, and transit trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan and expressed that if these three things are paid attention to, it will lead to the economic growth of both countries.