After a brief hiatus, Pakistan has recommenced trade activities with Afghanistan. Around a dozen trucks carrying Afghan goods recently arrived at the Attari Integrated Check Post (ICP), pushing up prices in the local market due to increased demand for Afghan imports.
An Afghan trader noted the negative effect of the Chaman and Torkhum border closures on the Afghanistan-India trade. He explained that these closures forced traders to import Afghan goods via Dubai, escalating costs. Consequently, the suspension of trade through Pakistan led to a price surge due to heightened demand for Afghan goods, further straining traders.
Goods imported from Afghanistan include licorice, alkanet root, dry and fresh fruits, vegetables, and pulses. Official records indicate a significant increase in the import of goods from Afghanistan via the Attari ICP during the financial year 2023-24 compared to the previous year.
However, the resumption of trade through Pakistan has necessitated increased vigilance by security agencies at the ICP. The heightened security measures are crucial as Afghan trucks travel over 600 km within Pakistan, a nation currently preparing for general elections. R.S. Sachdeva, chair of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Punjab, attributed the recent decline in India-Afghanistan trade via Attari to political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
