link>ISLAMABAD- ThePakistani officials are saying that the bilateral trade betweenAfghanistan and Pakistan has dropped by almost two billion US dollars.
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President ZahidullahShinwari has said the bilateral trade between the two countries reached to$500 million a year.
He said the trade volume between the two neighboring countries was $2.5billion as he blamed the strained relations between Kabul and Islamabadbehind the reducing trade volume between the two countries.
They also called on the relevant federal government officials to play theirrole in enhancing the Pak-Afghan trade.
Tensions between Kabul and Islamabad remains rife as the two countriesoften blame each other of remaining reckless to act against the terrorgroups using each other’s soil to plan and coordinate attacks.
The Afghan officials are saying that the Taliban and Haqqani networkleaders are based in the key cities of Pakistan, including Quetta andPeshawar from where they plan and coordinate attacks in Afghanistan.
The US officials have also often criticized Pakistan for remaining recklessto act against the sanctuaries of the terror groups, specifically theHaqqani terrorist network.
However, Pakistan rejects the allegations and claim that theTehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan use the Afghan soil to coordinate attacks inPakistan.
On the other hand, the Afghan government has stepped up efforts to findalternative routes to gain access to international markets to boost tradeas the key Chabahar Port in Iran started operations during the recentmonths besides Kabul and New Delhi have launched the air corridor to helpAfghan traders gain access to international markets.