Pakistan Creates Obstacles for Afghan Trucks in Transit

Trucks carrying the packed containers of Afghan traders have been stranded in Pakistan though Islamabad reopened border crossings with Afghanistan about a week ago.

Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) says Pakistan is asking for visa and passport from the Afghan drivers which is not applicable.

“This is not applicable, Pakistani drivers are not ready to apply for visa. Afghan government has not created any obstacle for them, our business will be fully closed with Pakistan if Pakistan continue this policy,” Khanjan Alekozay, deputy of ACCI said.

Afghan traders say they are paying $40 everyday for each container stand idle in Torkham and Chaman crossing borders.

“They are making excuses, the issue of visa and passport is not mentioned in the APTTA agreement,” Ahmad Shah Yar and Afghan trader said.

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (also known as APTTA) is a bilateral trade agreement signed in 2010 by Pakistan and Afghanistan that calls for greater facilitation in the movement of goods amongst the two countries.

The Afghan ministry of commerce and industries suggest the alternatives for Afghan businessmen and urge them to look towards other countries, which are equally willing to engage in trade with Afghanistan.

“In several meetings, including the Geneva and Human Right, we have discussed that Pakistan must not create problem for business and transit,” said Musafer Qoqandi, spokesman for the ministry of commerce and industries.

Qoqandi added that we have alternatives, but “our vision is that we should have good business and transit relations with all countries and if specific countries are creating problem it will cost them too.”

ACCI records show that around 5,000 packed containers and 800 trucks carrying containers have been stuck in Torkham border crossing.

The Chamber blames Afghan government for not taking fundamental steps to resolve the Afghan traders problems.

Reported by: Lyda Niazy