World

Traders suffering huge losses, say Afghan officials

Over 6,000 vehicles carrying perishable goods are currently stranded on the border

Hidayat Khan February 28, 2017

Goods trucks have been stuck at the Torkham border for the past 11 days due to the government’s recent decision to close the Pak-Afghan border. PHOTO: INP

PESHAWAR: Traders and transporters have suffered losses worth billions of rupees following the indefinite closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Afghan officials said on Monday.

According to them, more than 6,000 vehicles carrying goods are currently stranded on both sides of the border.

“The losses are now in billions of rupees … Not only Afghanistan but also the people of Pakistan are suffering because of the border closure,” said Mervais Yousafzai, the Afghan trade commissioner in Peshawar.

Yousafzai was accompanied by officials of the Afghan commissionerate, Afghan traders and transporters at a news conference held at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday.

“Pakistani people have incurred at least 80 per cent of these losses because their goods are perishing in these [stranded] vehicles.”

Afghan ambassador urges citizens to avoid 'unnecessary travel' to Pakistan

Mirvais said that bilateral trade and commerce should be impervious to politics. “Whenever such a situation arises, it must be resolved both politically and diplomatically, instead of punishing the poor people of both countries.”

“The closure of border (entry and exit points) is against all international laws,” said Yousafzai.

“It is against Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement … It is against (the rules of the) World Trade Organisation and Saarc … We urge the Pakistan government to open the border immediately.”

Yousafzai said that these issues had also been conveyed to the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa without any response.

“Every day, we pay taxes amounting to Rs20 million to the Pakistan government which shows the quantum of loss being incurred by both sides on a daily basis,” said Muhammad Rasool Jan, the head of Afghan Traders Association.

Calling for a new trade policy, Rasool Jan said that traders were never involved in the affairs of any country. “Why are we being victimised?” he asked. “At least 6,200 vehicles are stranded on both sides of the border,” said Malik Gul Akbar, the head of the Afghan Transporters Association.

“Perishable items are now (fully) decomposed, while non-perishable items are damaging heavy vehicles.”

Pakistan, Afghanistan: Business community may bear the brunt as borders close

According to him, as many as 2,100 vehicles were carrying perishable items and most of them belonged to Pakistani exporters. He also urged the inspector general of police to take action against the harassment of Afghan transporters at the hands of police officials.

“Between Khairabad and Torkham, all vehicles have to pay at least Rs52,000 to policemen manning various check posts,” he said, accusing the K-P police and the political administration of tribal areas.

Stressing the need for solving all outstanding political issues between the two countries at the earliest, Akbar said that traders and transporters should not be targeted.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2017.

COMMENTS (13)

Hamood` | 7 years ago | Reply We have lost tens of thousands of innocents peoples blood because of this so-called border. Shut this border down for the next 5 years. Plug the holes in it through fences, trenches, walls. No cross border movement should be allowed until Afghanistan becomes stable, which remains to be a pipe dream. No more trade for innocents blood. Let them go through Chahbahar and India. How many people will we lose before we shut this border completely?

D Kamal | 7 years ago | Reply As my Pakistani friend and true Pushtoon pathan said: "Afghanistan has back stabbed Pakistan. And should not be trusted. We will make peace with India but will never forget the treacherous acts committed by others on the orders of our enemies." He was basically saying you can forgive an enemy eventually but never a friend who betrays you during a hard time.

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FAZ | 7 years ago | Reply Billions of rupees of some traders versus hundreds of human lives.. No comparison! Where is the much taunted Chahbahar port?

Ayesha Ali | 7 years ago | Reply Resolve the security issues first please. Afghanistan should put in safety protocols so that Pakistan is safe from cross border movement

Anon | 7 years ago | Reply Seems like Pakistan has put sanctions of Afghanistan

Pakistani | 7 years ago | Reply Dear Afghan Traders, The Kabul regime received $200bn in USAID. What has your government done with that money? They Kabul regime is taking instructions from India to foster terror in Pakistan. We need to protect our country and we will not forget Afghans stabbiing us in the back

Abdul | 7 years ago | Reply Govt should open Afghan Transit trade because it has nothing to do with terrorism. Pakistan export already in decline & we are facing shortage of foreign reserve so its baseless act to shut the boarder for trade.

LOL | 7 years ago | Reply "It is against SAARC". the same SAARC you did not attend because it was held in Pakistan ? LOOL Now ask your Indian masters to air-lift. LOOOL.

Hammad | 7 years ago | Reply Please handover the 75 terrorists that you are hoding in afghanistan and the border will opened .

Humza | 7 years ago | Reply Why can't Afghanistan just transport goods via Iran and Chabahar Port there. Pakistan has to keep the border closed until effective security can be achieved and the border fenced or walled. The US forces there should help Pakistan build a big Trump like wall to prevent criminals from Afghanistan from entering Pakistan like the US is doing to keep out illegal Mexicans. Every country needs to secure the border. No amount of trade is worth losing security so I think most people want the border shut down.

Sloat | 7 years ago | Reply They need to trade with India their masters. Pakistan has done enough for them.

Barry Richard | 7 years ago | Reply Pakistan Govt should ask the Afghan Govt to hand over Mullai Yousaf to them before opening the border

Retired | 7 years ago | Reply "It is against (the rules of the) World Trade Organisation and Saarc" The very Saarc conference suppose to be held in Pakistan that Afghanistan boycotted at India's behest .............. How's that working out for ya???

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