BEIJING – Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to establish markets alongthe western border areas is an important measure to fully open the bordertrade with Afghanistan and Iran.
Cheng Xizhong, visiting professor at Southwest University of PoliticalScience and Law said on Saturday said last week, Prime Minister Imran Khandirected the Pakistani authorities concerned to fast-track establishment ofmarkets in the country’s border areas with Afghanistan and Iran.
They were also asked for early formulation of a comprehensive bordereconomic development strategy in this regard.
“The better the security situation is, the more open the border will be andthe more active the economy will be. I believe that the decision of thePakistani government to establish markets along the western border areas isan important measure to fully openthe border trade with Afghanistan and Iran,” he said in a statement issuedhere.
This reflects at least three points, first, Pakistan has made substantialprogress in its efforts to improve relations with its western neighborsAfghanistan and Iran over the years.Second, the security situation in the western border areas has beensignificantly improved by strengthening the fight against terrorism andextremism together with regional countries. Third, Pakistan is committed toregional connectivity, development and prosperity.
He said, the decision to fast-track markets in the border areas was also aconcrete reflection of the geo-economic strategy of the Imran Khanadministration, which was conducive to curbing the commodity smuggling inthe border areas, bolstering up the regional economy, creating moreemployment opportunities for the local people and bringing the prosperityto the people residing in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa andBalochistan.
The people in the border areas of Afghanistan and Iran would also benefit.Over the years, Pakistan has taken a firm stand on the issue ofanti-terrorism and has implemented a series of security operations in thewestern border areas to crack down on terrorist activities.
The overall security situation has been improved year by year. This hascreated favorable conditions for the full opening of border trade withAfghanistan and Iran.Pakistan is a peace-loving country and has played a very important role inthe process of peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan for many years.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Thursday that Pakistan hasplayed role of mediator during the peace talks between the Afghan Talibanand the United States, which led to a landmark deal signed in Doha inFebruary last year.
According to the deal, United States committed to reducing the number ofits troops in Afghanistan and currently, there are 2,500 American troops inAfghanistan. Therefore, Pakistan has done a lot and created an environmentto facilitate the peace process in Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s important role in regional security has been fully affirmed bythe Biden administration. On Tuesday, Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary ofDefense Lloyd Austin acknowledged that Pakistan holds the role of acritical ally in any peace process in Afghanistan. Pakistan has takenpositive steps to bring peace to Afghanistan, Lloyd Austin added.