Pakistan violates APTA by closing Torkham crossing: Traders  

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Pakistan sometimes closed the Torkham crossing for trade and commerce in violation of the APTA agreement and wanted to put pressure on Afghanistan through this way.

Fresh fruits and vegetable businessmen in eastern Nangarhar province said the closure of the Torkham crossing sometimes caused major losses for traders.

On the basis of the APTA agreement businessmen from both countries could export and import goods using each other soil.

The agreement was inked in 2010 and extended multiple times, but Afghan businessmen accused Pakistani side of violating the agreement.

Haji Ikhlasuddin, a fresh fruit trader in Nangarhar, said Pakistan often seeks different pre-texts to close Torkham crossing when fresh fruits and other items are harvested in Afghanistan and ready for the export.

Zabihullah, a vegetable businessmen, said due to Torkham crossing closure and problems created by Pakistan most of the time fresh fruits and vegetable rotten in trucks.

Haji Khawaja Mohammad, deputy head of fresh fruits and vegetable union, said Pakistan in violation of the APTA agreement created problems for traders due to which trucks wait for a long time and fruits and vegetable get rotten.

“When the fruit and vegetable season in Afghanistan begin, our neighbor Pakistan makes various excuses for us and makes the issue political and increase their production during the export of our fruits and vegetable products.”

Farmers in Nangarhar also said that they could not benefit from local markets and sometimes they could not compensate their expenditures.

Rahmanuddin, the resident of Rodat district, who harvested onions few months ago, said during harvest season Pakistan created problems for farmers therefore they sold onion in the local market and suffered losses.

Local officials in Nangarhar also acknowledged that Pakistan sometimes closes Torkham crossing and caused problems for businessmen.

Mawlavi Sediqullah Qureshi, deputy head of the Information and Cultural Affairs, said: “They promised with use that these types of issues would not happen in the future, if there is any problems it would be addressed through talks but still the door is sometimes closed, the Islamic Emirate strived to explore other option when Pakistan closed the Torkham crossing.”

nh