PESHAWAR – Pakistan and Afghaistan trade has decreased from 2.7 billiondollars to 1.2 billion dollars in less than two years, sparking concernsamong businessmen from the two countries.

Pakistani and Afghan traders voiced concerns at the sharp fall in bilateraltrade due to political tensions between the neighbours and impediments tothe implementation of transit trade agreements.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI)organised the “Cross-Border Round table” in collaboration with PakistaniCentre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and a UK-based organisationcalled Safeworld.

At a joint press conference with Afghan traders at the end of talks inIslamabad, PAJCCI Chairman Muhammad Zubair Motiwala called on bothgovernments to separate trade from politics.

In a unanimous resolution released at the conclusion of talks, the traderssaid: “We want governments on both sides to segregate business ties frompolitical and security tensions and suggest bilateral and transit tradeneeds rejuvenation.”

In 2014, the two countries had pledged to boost bilateral trade to 5billion US dollars in five years. But worsening relations, blame game,border closures and obstacles to implementation of transit agreements haveaffected the trade volume.

They called for confidence-building measures to overcome mistrust in thePakistan-Afghanistan relationship that was not only hampering politicaldialogue but also significantly impacting economic cooperation between thetwo countries.

Afghan Chambers of Commerce President Khan Jan Alkozai said Pakistanitraders were interested in trade through Gawadar and Karachi port as theywere near to Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan has been facilitating Pakistan trade with the Central Asianstates and Afghan businessmen also want similar cooperation from thePakistani side” Alkozai said.

The delegates demanded a meeting of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit TradeCoordination Authority (APTTCA) on facilitating discussions to revive theeconomic transition leading to peace and prosperity across the border.

Pakistan had hosted the last meeting of APTACA, an important forum to dealwith problems affecting smooth implementation of the 2010 revised transittreaty in February 2016.

Afghanistan was to host its 7th meeting in Kabul in September 2017. But themeeting was postponed amid tensions. An Afghan delegate, who had beeninvolved in Pak-Afghan trade talks for years, said the APTTCA should meetevery six months.