Important development reported between Pakistan and Afghanistan
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In Islamabad, discussions unfolded between Haji Nooruddin Azizi, the acting commerce minister of the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan, and Pakistan’s caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani.
The Afghan embassy's statement outlined the focus on bilateral trade, the status of stranded goods in Karachi port owned by Afghan traders, and the smooth transfer of Afghan refugees' assets back to Afghanistan.
This meeting took place shortly after Pakistan expelled numerous undocumented Afghans, attributing the decision to the Taliban's reluctance in addressing militants using Afghanistan as a base for attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban officials argued that internal security matters fall under Pakistan's purview, urging a halt to the deportation of Afghan citizens.
Amid challenges faced by Afghan citizens returning home, such as difficulties in transferring cash and property from Pakistan, where many had established businesses and homes over decades, the Pakistani Foreign Office conveyed Jilani's message.
The emphasis was on the potential for regional trade and connectivity through collective action against terrorism.
Highlighting the issue, Haji Nooruddin Azizi urged Pakistan to release thousands of containers carrying imports stuck at Karachi Port. Pakistani authorities expressed concerns about substantial losses in tax revenue due to duty-free goods sent from its ports to landlocked Afghanistan, only to be smuggled back across the border.
