Pakistan to construct dry ports at Torkham, Chaman to facilitate bilateral trade with Afghanistan

[Edevelop]

ISLAMABAD: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan said on Wednesday that Pakistan would construct dry ports at the Torkham and Chaman borders in order to facilitate bilateral trade with Afghanistan.

The minister said that Pakistan was seriously working on infrastructure development and road connectivity with Afghanistan which would tremendously help in promoting economic integration between the two countries, a statement said. He expressed these views at the inauguration of “Made in Pakistan Exhibition”, organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, in Kabul.

The minister reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to intensify bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of trade, culture and defence.

He said the government was keen on enhancing trade relations with Afghanistan and, in this regard, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was encouraging businessmen to invest in the neighbouring country.

The minister said the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry needed to take joint ventures by organising such exhibitions in central Asian as well as other important countries of the world.

He offered his ministry’s support to Afghan traders to facilitate them in organising similar exhibitions in major cities of Pakistan.

He said that a separate desk for facilitation of Afghan and Central Asian traders has been set up in the Ministry of Commerce. Afghan Acting Minister of Commerce Muzammil Shinwari, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain, President of Pak-Afghan’s Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Khan Jan Alkozay, former President of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Shumail Daud Arian, and organiser of the exhibition, Khurshid Barlas, also addressed the event

Pakistan to construct dry ports at Torkham, Chaman - Newspaper - DAWN.COM

 

[Bobby]

not totally dry

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Pakistan needs to end support of Talibans and have good brotherly relations with Afghanistan. The new highways, railway lines and air connections need to be established. Its about time that Pakistan change its Afghan policy from confrontation to cooperation.

not totally dry

Good catch !

 

[That Guy]

Pakistan needs to end support of Talibans and have good brotherly relations with Afghanistan. The new highways, railway lines and air connections need to be established. Its about time that Pakistan change its Afghan policy from confrontation to cooperation.

The same damn narrative over and over again. You blame Pakistan completely and utterly, and think this all started with the taliban.

The Afghans started this mess, which is why their nation is in complete ruin. Pakistan, since the beginning, wanted to cooperate and have friendly relations with Afghanistan, but it has always (ALWAYS) been the Afghans that have been hostile (including sending military forces, not one, but twice into Pakistani territory to steal the tribal region).

Since the very beginning, it was the Afghans that rejected Pakistan as a nation, and to this day, they continue to claim 40-60% of Pakistan belongs to them. They reject the border, they started the Baluchi insurgency, they sided with India (and continue to side with India), they helped the USSR gain a foothold in the region, threatening Pakistan's very existence.

Thankfully, Ghani seem to be smart enough to know things cannot stay the same. It's not the Afghans that should remain skeptical about Pakistan, rather it should be Pakistan that remains skeptical about Afghan sincerity. While the signs say that the Afghans are finally sincere about having good relations with Pakistan, only time will tell if they really mean it.

 

[Shamain]

Why afghanistan was collaborating with ussr back then. Some balkanization of pak wishes.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

The same damn narrative over and over again. You blame Pakistan completely and utterly, and think this all started with the taliban.

Afghanistan was under the impression that the lands that were tributary to them before being conquered by the British Raj will be returned to them after the end of colonialism. That belief was shattered when NWFP voted to join Pakistan in 1947 plebiscite. The Pakistani Pashtuns are not interested in joining Afghanistan and their future lies in Pakistan. Who cares about Afghan claims when the local population does not support Afghanistan. Even Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and his son Khan Abdul Wali Khan recognized that the Pastuns want to be part of Pakistan. Only people who still live in this fantasy are many Afghans and nightmare to some Pakistanis none of Pakistani Pashtuns loses sleep over this dead and buried issue.Pashtun areas are Muslim heartland of Pakistan and Pashtuns are well integrated in Pakistan armed forces and society.

 

[Menace2Society]

So Pakistan is doing trade with a country who's people hate them in the hope they will finally realise Pakistans good intentions and become friendly?

LOL who decided this foreign policy work of art? A 9 year old?

Insolence comes at a price. A price uncle Sam has taught Afghans but Pakistan have not.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

So Pakistan is doing trade with a country who's people hate them in the hope they will finally realise Pakistans good intentions and become friendly ? LOL who decided this foreign policy work of art? A 9 year old?

Pakistan needs to have good relations with Afghanistan. Hopefully trade will improve the relations between two brotherly countries. There are people like you n Afghanistan too and hopefully they will change their attitude too.

 

[Menace2Society]

Pakistan needs to have good relations with Afghanistan. Hopefully trade will improve the relations between two brotherly countries. There are people like you n Afghanistan too and hopefully they will change their attitude too.

Hopefully?

I don't like this word.

When you trade with a nation, the environment is friendly no hostilities.

Enemies do not trade with enemies. US does not trade with North Korea.

Its like Pakistan wanting to trade with India in the hope they will come around and become friendly.

This is called living in a fools paradise.

Building healthy relations with another nation is not built with attached strings, its with goodwill. Trade is a byproduct.

HOPEFULLY you understand dear.

 

[ArsalanKhan21]

Hopefully? I don't like this word. When you trade with a nation, the environment is friendly no hostilities. Enemies do not trade with enemies. US does not trade with North Korea. Its like Pakistan wanting to trade with India in the hope they will come around and become friendly. This is called living in a fools paradise. Building healthy relations with another nation is not built with attached strings, its with goodwill. Trade is a byproduct.HOPEFULLY you understand dear.

Countries don’t have friends just interests. There are no permanent friends or enemies. France and Germany were enemies in two World wars and today they are friends. Pakistan and Afghan has so much in common.