Secretary Commerce will visit Afghanistan today

March 25, 2024
7:47 am

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani official is scheduled to undertake a two-day official trip to Afghanistan to discuss trade-related issues, as stated by Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch in a statement on Sunday.

“In her statement on Sunday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch announced that Secretary Commerce Khurrum Agha will be embarking on a two-day visit to Afghanistan starting Monday, March 25, 2024, to engage in discussions concerning trade matters,” she expressed on X.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to fostering trade relations and enhancing people-to-people connections with Afghanistan.

This development unfolds against the backdrop of strained relations between the two nations, particularly concerning the use of Afghan territory by terrorist organizations, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), to carry out attacks within Pakistan.

Earlier this week, Pakistan conducted an intelligence-driven counter-terrorism operation inside Afghanistan following the martyrdom of seven Pakistan Army personnel, including two officers, during the defense against a terrorist assault on a security forces post in the North Waziristan district.

The Foreign Office issued a comprehensive statement addressing the issue, underscoring Pakistan’s persistent expression of grave concerns to the interim Afghan government over the presence of terrorist groups, including the TTP, on Afghan soil. These groups pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s security and have consistently utilized Afghan territory as a launchpad for terrorist activities within Pakistan.

Last October, Pakistan implemented stricter conditions on Afghan Transit Trade (ATT). Among the new regulations, 25 percent of shipments will undergo scanning, with at least 10 percent subject to examination by the Risk Management System (RMS). Additionally, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introduced requirements for bank guarantees equivalent to the duties and taxes of the consignment to ensure the safe delivery of goods bound for Afghanistan.