Taliban’s Stanikzai Criticizes Pakistan for Trade Barriers
In Kabul, Afghanistan, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s Political Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, has criticized Pakistan for creating obstacles for Afghan traders during the peak season for fruits and vegetables. He suggested that Afghanistan might close Pakistan’s transit route to Central Asia in response to these trade restrictions.
Speaking to traders in Logar province, Stanikzai emphasized that closing trade routes would not benefit either country. He stated, “Afghanistan serves as a vital transit route between Pakistan and Central Asia. We could close our borders and cause them problems, but we do not wish to harm our Pakistani brothers across the border.”
He urged Pakistan to keep its borders open during Afghanistan’s fruit and vegetable season to allow these products to reach markets in India and other countries. Afghanistan’s nuts and dry fruits, including almonds, pistachios, walnuts, dried apricots, dried figs, and raisins, are primarily sold to neighboring Asian countries. However, Pakistan’s trade restrictions have hindered access to ports and land routes for Afghanistan.
This marks the first time Kabul has suggested closing Pakistan’s transit route to Central Asia as a response to trade restrictions. The closure of trade routes, along with increased customs tariffs and non-compliance with trade agreements by Pakistan, has led to a 10% decline in Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan in the first five months of this year.
Doubts Revealed
Taliban -: The Taliban is a group that controls Afghanistan. They have their own government and make decisions for the country.
Stanikzai -: Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai is a leader in the Taliban government. He helps manage Afghanistan’s relationships with other countries.
Pakistan -: Pakistan is a neighboring country to Afghanistan. It shares a long border with Afghanistan and they trade goods with each other.
Trade Barriers -: Trade barriers are rules or actions that make it hard for countries to buy and sell things to each other. They can include taxes or limits on how much can be traded.
Transit Route -: A transit route is a path or road used to transport goods from one place to another. In this case, it is the route through Pakistan that Afghan goods use to reach Central Asia.
Central Asia -: Central Asia is a region in the middle of Asia, which includes countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan trades with these countries.
Exports -: Exports are goods that a country sells to other countries. Afghanistan sells fruits and vegetables to Pakistan, which are examples of exports.