This is apropos a Business Recorder op-ed "Trade replacing terror" carried by the newspaper yesterday. The writer, M. Ziauddin, has plausibly argued, among other things, that "Many attempts have been made to identify the difficulties and address the grievances of the two sides but to no avail. The impediments identified in various studies relate to issues of trade facilitation, transit and transport, en route security, customs procedures, illegal trade, tariffs, banking and payments, competitiveness and infrastructure. Still, it seems too preposterous for a country of over 220 million with a GDP of over $ 300 billion to fence itself against 'threats to its economy' from one of the poorest countries (more than 54 percent of the population lives below the poverty line) of the world having a population of just 35 million and a GDP of a mere $ 23 billion."

The writer's articulation, in my view, presents a strong case for greater bilateral trade between the two countries. Hence the need for some creative thinking in order to move forward. There's no denying the fact that the Afghans have suffered for too long. The US and its NATO allies, too, are required to play a role in the development of this landlocked country through a slew of economic/trade incentives.