Pakistan, Afghanistan agree to resume Dosti bus service

All outstanding issues have been addressed, says Afghan official

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to resume the suspended 'Dosti' bus service between the two countries.

During the recent visit by the Afghan delegation, interim foreign minister Ameer Khan Muttaqi, it was decided to resume the bus service from Peshawar's Kharkhano market area to Afghanistan's Jalabad. 

The visiting envoy also expressed the desire to start such services from the southern province of Balochistan.

A top official from the visiting Afghan delegation told The Express Tribune that "talks have taken place on the resumption of bus services between the two sides. All outstanding issues have been addressed".

The Afghan official added that the final go-ahead is awaited from the security services of both countries.

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"The Pakistani side welcomed the Afghan interim foreign Minister Ameer Khan Muttaqi’s request for resumption of Dosti bus services and assured that at most by the start of the next year, the bus service will resume."

The bus service between the two countries was suspended in 2016. The resumption of the service will help mitigate pedestrian traffic at the border crossings and will facilitate Afghan civilians living in or near Jalalabad.

Pakistan, in recent days, has resumed facilitating the movement of Afghan students and has taken other measures.  

The Afghan side has welcomed Islamabad's gestures, including the abolishment of taxes on fresh fruit and showing flexibility in the import of wheat to Afghanistan from India via Pakistan.