Transporters forced to spend huge sums to secure cargo, frozen goods and edibles
PESHAWAR
The government’s decision to block supplies to NATO and US forces in Afghanistan is also affecting routine trade between the two countries, making uncertain the fate of stakeholders across the country, especially those in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Tribal Areas.
The government barred NATO supplies through Pakistan to cross into Afghanistan last Thursday after NATO helicopters fired inside the country’s territory on Wednesday, killing three paramilitary soldiers.
Thousands of trucks, oil tankers and trailers carrying supplies for NATO forces were left stranded from Karachi to Torkham.
The decision left the vehicles exposed to the militants, who took there chances and torched over 150 supply trucks over the past week.
The trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been going on for centuries and several agreements have been signed between the two countries to provide safety to traders, as well as cargo.
The first such documentary agreement for safety of the traders and British convoys was signed in 1865 and another followed in 1879, which was called Gandamak Agreement.
Both the agreements were meant to enable the British rulers have access to the tribal belt and provide protection to trade convoys.
The British made a formal transit trade agreement with Afghanistan in 1928.
The first transit trade agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan was signed in 1965. The agreement proved beneficial, but Islamabad’s one sided amendments in 1995 led developed a mistrust between the two sides.
However, before the 1995 amendments, the trade suffered a lot when former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
It enabled not only US-led allies landing in the area but it enabled officials of secret agencies gain access to the Pak-Afghan border.
Re-smuggling of imported items, which was “limited” earlier become more common. The trade took another turn after 9/11 attacks.
At that time, the global community announced a reconstruction plan worth billions of dollars, while supplies to US-led troops multiplied the stakeholders’ chances of earning.
The stakeholders told Pakistan Today that the blockade of supplies to US and NATO forces had affected them adversely.
They said almost all supplies were on halt since the last nine days and they had to spend a lot of money to secure the cargo.
“Apart from that, frozen goods and edible items are at risk of going waste due to the blockade. We spend around Rs 25,000 per day to maintain frozen items in one container,” a commission agent said.
