ISLAMABAD: The government's decision to reopen Wagah border for Afghan transit trade has received mixed reactions with some welcoming the move while others are describing it as a possible route for export of Indian terrorism.
Foreign Office, through a statement on Monday announced that Pakistan has decided to resume Afghan exports through Wagah border crossing from July 15, 2020, after implementing COVID-19 related protocols at the request of the Afghan government.
"With this step, Pakistan has fulfilled its commitments under Pakistan-Afghanistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA). Pakistan has restored bilateral trade and Afghan transit trade at all border crossing terminals to pre-COVID-19 status," it stated, adding that Pakistan remains fully committed to further strengthening its bilateral relations with Afghanistan in all areas including trade, and to facilitate Afghanistan's transit trade under APTTA.
The latest progress in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations comes in wake of a visit to Kabul by Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa along with Director General, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt General Faiz Hameed and Special Representative for Afghanistan Ambassador Sadiq (retd) on June 9, 2020; and held wide-ranging
talks with President Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah.
The visit was followed by reopening of three major border crossings - Torkham, Chaman and Ghulam Khan - last month at the request of Kabul to ease transit and bilateral trade activities which were earlier closed due to the outbreak of coronavirus. To enhance bilateral trade with Afghanistan , Pakistan also reopened two more border crossings - Kharlachi and Angor Adda - on July 12.
However, the decision of reopening of the Wagah border which coincided with Kashmir Martyrs' Day, was criticized by the major opposition political party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), describing it as a "very unfortunate" move.
"This is very unfortunate that the decision was taken on the day when the nation as well as Kashmiri people all over the world were observing Kashmir Martyrs' Day," said PML-N lawmaker Aisha Ghaus Pasha while speaking on floor of the National Assembly on Monday.
She said that the transit trade is also very sensitive for the Indian export of terrorism and smuggling. "Has the government taken appropriate measures to stop the terror export [from India] and the smuggling via this transit trade," she asked, adding that the government should also explain as to whether it has also agreed with India on the tariff barriers issues.
However, the concerns of the opposition lawmaker did not get any response from the government side; her request that the government updates the House on the conditions under which the border crossing along India is being reopened also went unanswered.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) senior leader Farhatullah Babar welcomed the reopening of the Wagah border for the Afghan transit trade and described it as "good news".
"Opening of Wagah for Afghan exports to India is good news. Open it for two-way trade, not just one-way. Pakistan-Afghanistan trade at all crossings and trade across LoC should also be opened," Babar said.
He further stated: "trade and people to people contacts hold a key to peace, not the comical parade and stomping of feet at Wagah every sunset".
Afrasiab Khattak, a former senator and Afghan affairs expert, said that there is a need for taking serious measures to restore mutual trust. He said that the Afghan transit trade system is dysfunctional due to arbitrary blockades and illegal restrictions from Pakistan side.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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