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Pak-Afg transit trade pact yet to be signed: Kaira
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira on Tuesday said that under the Pak-Afghan transit trade arrangement, only transport of trade goods from Afghanistan would be allowed and that too up to Wagah border only, while no Indian goods would be transported to Afghanistan through this route.While addressing a press conference at the Prime Minister Secretariat here, he said that only a Letter of Understanding (LoU) has been signed for this purpose so far.
“Confusion is prevailing from the very first day in this regard and reports, editorials and special reports, being contrary to the facts and against the interests of the country, are being published,” said the minister.
“The LoU has been signed for one way transit trade facility for Afghan goods up to Wagah border, and not for reverse trade from India”, he said
This would be a bilateral agreement under which, Pakistan would allow Afghan goods export to India via Wagah border and Kabul will provide transit facility to Pakistani goods to Central Asians States (CARs),” he added.
Kaira said that it was regrettable that despite the fact that even though the government made it very clear right at the outset that the transit facility would only be for Afghan goods, now on the third day of the news, a section of press has carried editorial comments and special reports on the assumption that Indian trade though Pakistan would be against our interests.
To a question, he said that Pakistan Customs would evaluate the Afghan goods at the Torkham border, seal the containers and issue bank bonds, which would only be returned after the goods are handed over to India at Wagah border.
Courtesy www.Geo.tv