More Pak-Afghan border points to reopen for trade

Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan says Angor Adda, Kharlachi crossing to be opened by July 12

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan on Thursday announced it would reopen two more border crossings with Afghanistan to boost trade between the neighbours, a move welcomed by Kabul as an important step towards “development of the bilateral trade”.

Mohammad Sadiq, Pakistan’s Special Representative on Afghanistan, said the crossings were likely to be reopened before mid-July. Last month Islamabad reopened the Torkham, Chaman, and Ghulam Khan border crossings, after they were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Pakistan will open Angor Adda and Kharlachi border crossings for trade with Afghanistan. After necessary arrangements by both sides, the two crossings are likely to become operational on 12 July,” Sadiq tweeted.

“In the spirit of brotherly cooperation and regional connectivity, Pakistan shared Torkham and Chaman border terminal master plans with Afghanistan to enable concurrent and complimentary development on Afghan side,” he added.

“An enhanced compatibility in trade infrastructure on both sides will help realise shared goal of optimum trade, connectivity and people to people facilitation between the two countries.”

Sadiq’s Afghan counterpart, Atif Mashal welcomed Islamabad’s announcement, calling it an important step. “We are certain that the opening of more crossing points will help in the development of bilateral trade between both countries,” Mashal tweeted.

Pakistan is one of Afghanistan’s major trading partners and the largest market for Afghan exports. However, the trade volume has been impacted by frequent border closures. In May, Pakistan also opened its strategic Gwadar port in Balochistan for Afghan transit trade.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share 18 crossing points, with the most commonly used ones being Torkham and Chaman. However, multiple border points have been closed for several months at various times since 2014.