Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of violating bilateral transit trade treaty

[A.Rafay]

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 (APTTA) as the Afghan authorities blamed that Islamabad was denying its cargo, access to Wagah border and seaports.
The issue was raised on Thursday during a meeting of the Transit Trade Coordination Authority – a body established to settle disputes arising out of implementation of bilateral transit trade treaty.
According to officials of the Afghanistan embassy, Pakistan was restricting its cargo to Peshawar, which was a violation of the treaty.
Article 3 of the treaty stipulates that there will be freedom of transit through the territory of each contracting party via predetermined routes. Under the APTTA – an improved version of the 1963 bilateral treaty – Afghanistan’s cargo can go up to Wagah border and to Karachi seaports – Karachi Port and Bin Qasim Port.
The officials said that unlike Pakistan the Afghan authorities were allowing the Pakistani cargo to go to any point. The Afghan people were putting pressure on the government to review its decision of giving free access to Pakistan’s cargo until Islamabad resolves the issue, said the officials, suggesting that Kabul may also retaliate.
The justification the Pakistani authorities had given was that they have not yet prepared the mechanism to regulate the cargo movement, said the consulate officials.
According to an official of the Afghan commerce ministry the deputy economic minister of Afghanistan raised the issue of restrictions on Afghan cargo in Pakistan. The official said that the deputy minister requested that Afghanistan’s vehicles carrying fresh fruits should be allowed to go up to Wagah border to cross into India.
The commerce ministry official added that both sides agreed that loose cargo can be carried through road across the border for one year as it was a cheaper mode of transportation. However, the Pakistani authorities turned down Afghanistan’s request to extend the facility for unlimited period.
The coordination authority will meet for two days to resolve the issue and deliberate over other outstanding issues like the customs procedures and problems in implementing insurance guarantees clause, which had been inserted in the treaty to discourage smuggling under the guise of Afghan transit trade.
Haji Fateh Khan, representative of the Federation of International Transport Companies of Pakistan, said that Pakistani transporters were also facing problems in Afghanistan. He said the biggest issue that dented the transport business was the volatile security situation in the neighbouring country. Khan added that Afghanistan was creating hurdles in giving entry permits which was affecting the cross border movement of cargoes.
Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of violating bilateral transit trade treaty – The Express Tribune

 

[MilSpec]

It is unfortunate for afghanistan to be land locked

 

[Thorough Pro]

Abandon the deal, let the scums die of hunger.

 

[W.11]

It is unfortunate for afghanistan to be land locked

and fortunate enough to find neighbour like pakistan

 

[Sinnerman108]

Trade treaty !

That piece of paper was signed under huge pressure from the US.
It is just the right time to tear away that paper and tell Karzai to use his "northern" routes for what ever he needs.

Pakistan is close for afghan business.

Let them learn some lessons, let them learn the definition of Jihad properly.

Afhganistan has sponged off pakistan for decades, and destroyed our economy and society.

We must close our borders and help Karzai learn self reliance.

 

[Amaa'n]

Yeah right, they should be happy about the routes rather than moaning about the voilations, Why not just get the seaports from Iran?
Oh btw few days back on my way back from my village at night, I saw 8 Humvees loaded on 4 trucks ( 2 on each). It came as a shocked to me because last time I checked under new MoU by the so called Democratic Govt there wasn't any military equipment going through Pakistan

 

[Sher Malang]

The biggest misery that Taliban and US brought to Afghans was importing goods from Pakistan - historically we never used Pakistan for imports.

But hopefully by a sane government in the future we could again start importing goods from Russian and Iranian routes, and all Chinese goods directly from China the roads and railways are already under construction and the business would be better than pre-Taliban this time because of feasibility of infrastructure.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

The biggest misery that Taliban and US brought to Afghans was importing goods from Pakistan - historically we never used Pakistan for imports.

But hopefully by a sane government in the future we could again start importing goods from Russian and Iranian routes, and all Chinese goods directly from China the roads and railways are already under construction and the business would be better than pre-Taliban this time because of feasibility of infrastructure.

Easy said then done
1. Iran is under sanctions
2. Russian way will mean Russian influence, which US won't like
3. China yes but for raw material only , no western electronic (for selling back as duty free in Pakistan) or food stuff to feed Afghans

 

[Amaa'n]

Easy said then done
1. Iran is under sanctions
2. Russian way will mean Russian influence, which US won't like
3. China yes but for raw material only , no western electronic (for selling back as duty free in Pakistan) or food stuff to feed Afghans

and don't forget the Cost factor through NDN, and China will never allow military equipment, which Pakistan is

 

[BATMAN]

The biggest misery that Taliban and US brought to Afghans was importing goods from Pakistan - historically we never used Pakistan for imports.

But hopefully by a sane government in the future we could again start importing goods from Russian and Iranian routes, and all Chinese goods directly from China the roads and railways are already under construction and the business would be better than pre-Taliban this time because of feasibility of infrastructure.

How can Pakistan help you if you want to increase imports from Iran or Russia?

And, Where in history is it mentioned that any one had forced you to import from Pakistan.

Actually, news clearly indicate that northern warlords are complaining about imports from wahga i.e. hind.

Pakistan was already subsidizing bharti industry, providing security and transport to its goods, which are being imported upon request of northern alliance but the quantity of import vs. population of Afghanistan does not makes any sense.

The backdrop of this protest is to cover the lates discovery of spying equipment discovered from imports from India.

Pakistan seizes ‘spying devices’ hidden in Indian vegetable

 

[datalibdaz]

Oh poor Afghanistan, feeling the pressure now. Carry on with your terrorism in Pakistan until the day Afg becomes one of our province..And yeah dont worry about Baluchistan

 

[BATMAN]

Easy said then done
1. Iran is under sanctions
2. Russian way will mean Russian influence, which US won't like
3. China yes but for raw material only , no western electronic (for selling back as duty free in Pakistan) or food stuff to feed Afghans

Iran is the biggest supplier of goods to Afghanistan.. read NATO.
Do not mislead people on solid facts, consult some facts study before making your opinion or go visit the Iran's border to Afghanistan.

 

[Gin ka Pakistan]

Iran is the biggest supplier of goods to Afghanistan.. read NATO.
Do not mislead people on solid facts, consult some facts study before making your opinion or go visit the Iran's border to Afghanistan.

Sir jee , India has invested billions in building a port and a road from Iran to Kabul but can't use it because of sanctions , I do my home work , do you?

Yes local trade will be going on between Iranian and Afghan boarder but you can't do government level contracts with Iran on many items else will be put under US sanctions.

 

[Sher Malang]

Easy said then done
1. Iran is under sanctions
2. Russian way will mean Russian influence, which US won't like
3. China yes but for raw material only , no western electronic (for selling back as duty free in Pakistan) or food stuff to feed Afghans

I used two words in my reply 'sane government' if we got one like before things will not be as difficult as you see but yeah can't disregard the difficulties to start all this again after years of blockade from northern route.

And yeah about the cost it's not a matter we will import costly goods from Iranian route all it needs is a good management and diplomacy by Afghan government.

 

[Armstrong]

I used two words in my reply 'sane government' if we got one like before things will not be as difficult as you see but yeah can't disregard the difficulties to start all this again after years of blockade from northern route.

And yeah about the cost it's not a matter we will import costly goods from Iranian route all it needs is a good management and diplomacy by Afghan government.

Yaaraaa kabhiii touuu hameinnn buraa bhalaaa kehnaaa busss kar do !

What possible reason does Pakistan have to see a backward Afghanistan ? Its that same backwardness in our backyard that has been bitting us on the arse for the past 2-3 decades ! Bhaiii kabbhiii tou maaaf kaar diyaa kar !