Businessmen urge govt to reopen Pak-Afghan borders

ISLAMABAD: Businessmen from Pakistan and Afghanistan on Tuesday urged the Pakistani national security advisor to iron out the differences that led to the closure of the border and is causing immense losses to trade and industry.  

A delegation of Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, comprising businessmen from Pakistan and Afghanistan, expressed this view during a meeting with Pakistan’s national security advisor retired Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua.  

The delegation’s members stressed upon the need of improving economic ties between the two countries. They apprised the official of the issues and problems due to the recent border closure and requested him to resolve this issue at the earliest to avert further sufferings. 

Janjua said economic interdependence can improve relationship between the two countries as security and economic security are the two sides of the same coin. “Both countries collectively need to find solutions to defeat the menace of terrorism,” he added.  He assured the delegation that their request of opening of borders will be given due consideration.

Pakistan closed its border with the Afghanistan after the border skirmishes and terrorist attack in the country. The closure of two main border crossings: Torkham and Chaman brought almost to a halt billions of rupees trade taking place because of easy movements of citizens across the border. An estimate said the bilateral trade halved to Rs1.5 billion since the trade consignments were stopped at the customs posts. 

Even domestic trade is badly hurt due to this. Traders of Landikotal bazaar on the Pakistani side told The News that 90 percent of his customers were from Afghanistan. He said food and other commodities from Pakistan have strong demand in Afghanistan.

A customs agent said more than 300 shops, hotels and other business centres have been closed due to the curfew in Torkham border area. He said 5,000 daily wagers working at Torkham have lost their jobs.

Janjua said both the countries are ready markets for each other. “There is a need to hold each other together.”