December 4, 2020
Islamabad has issued around 80,000 visas to Afghans in a month, and a few are for less than a year. Students are getting visas for the entire time period of their scholarship. This shows things are moving in the right direction, though we have to be patient. Complex issues accumulating over years would take some time for resolution; we should not lose any gains made so far, stated Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Afghanistan. He was speaking at the fifth Pak-Afghan Trade and Economic Connectivity Focused Group Discussion (FGD) in Islamabad, spearheaded by Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI).
Pakistan and Afghanistan have taken some principled decisions within last six months, in order to move forward in an organized way. Trade diplomacy should continue irrespective of political environment, reciprocity should be in the positive, a tit for tat approach be avoided, and the common man should not bear the brunt of something done by an individual or a group. Moreover, parliaments of both sides are now on-board, PM Special Representative added.
Pak-Afghan traders highly appreciate the recent swift and positive developments, between Pakistan and Afghanistan, over the course of last few months. Islamabad and Kabul now seem committed more than ever to resolve issues of mutual interest in a structural manner. It is the beginning of new chapter of economic connectivity and enhanced trade between two countries, stated Khan Jan Alokozai, Chairman PAJCCI and Vice Chairman Afghanistan Chambers Federation. He further stated that appointment of special envoys to expedite the progress on bilateral front well reflects the seriousness being showed by the leadership on both sides. Though, he cautioned that such positive gains should not be short-lived. Both sides have to continue bilateral engagements with the goodwill to move forward and not be the prisoners of history.
Muzammil Shinwari, Former Minister for Finance, Afghanistan, apprised the participants that both sides are proactive in taking meaningful reforms on paper, but when it comes to implementation, much needs to change. Pakistan needs to really work on making business for Afghan traders a lot easier and cheaper, not because it is beneficial for Afghans but advantageous for Pakistan as well. We should be sharing real time data regarding trade and transit to minimize the structural hinderances obstructing the traffic flow across the border, he added.
The Afghan delegation was of the view that Pakistan may consider utilizing another crossing point, right next to Torkham, naming Khwar. This would allow operations through Torkham and Khwar, for exclusive entry and exits points, allowing uninterpreted flow of trade and transit. They also said that if trade of cement and coal could entirely be diverted to Ghulam Khan crossing point, this could significantly reduce the traffic congestion at Torkham and Chaman. Afghan traders also complained about the scanning and tracking issues.
Government officials from Pakistani side responded that scanning and tracking issues have been resolved to a certain extent. Moreover, Expression of Interest (EOI) has been floated to involve more private companies for the purpose, to bring in the factor of competition, resulting in cheap and sufficient services. He further stated that Pakistan now has an integrated scanning system, and vehicles are only stopped at Torkham again on the basis of suspicion. Though, we are still working on enhancing the system and fix loopholes. Any mishandling or corruption in this regard may be an individual case but not a state policy.
Additionally, FBR representative said that to facilitate bilateral trade and transit, joint checking of the vehicles has started. At present, Frontier Constabulary (FC) and Customs are jointly checking the vehicles; National Logistics Cell (NLC) will also join in soon. He also shared that Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has sent a details report for the operationalization of Ghulam Khan crossing point for transit too. Now the ball is the court of Ministry of Commerce (MoC).
As the constructive and positive discussion wrapped up, both sides offered helpful suggestions to improve trade flow and both sides pledged to keep economics and trade detached from politics for regional stability and sustainable development.
Other members of Afghan delegation included Soltan Muhammad Safi, Vice Chairman, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment; Tor Malang Shegewal, Chairman Nangarhar, Chamber of Mines and Industry; Parwarish Oryakhail, Vice President Afghanistan Women Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Naqeeb Ullah Safi, Executive Director PAJCCI; Sameena Wadeer, Commercial Councilor, Embassy of Afghanistan Islamabad; Bahram Mohammadi, Second Secretary, Incharge Economic Affairs, Embassy of Afghanistan Islamabad and Babrak Akbare, Afghan Businessman.
The author Saddam Hussein serves as a Research Fellow and Program Manager at the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and for Afghan Studies Center, Islamabad, as well. He tweets @saddampide.
© Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) and Afghan Studies Center (ASC), Islamabad.
