ACCI said that if the border challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan are not resolved, the businessmen will lose millions of dollars.
Following the clashes between Islamic Emirate forces and Pakistani border guards at the Torkham crossing, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) expressed concern about the halt of the transfer of goods at the Torkham crossing.
ACCI said that if the border challenges between Afghanistan and Pakistan are not resolved, the businessmen will lose millions of dollars.
“These clashes are neither in the interest of Afghanistan’s private sector nor Pakistan’s private sector. So, now it is time for our fruits, grapes, melons, and dozens of our fresh fruits to go to Pakistan, and Pakistanis are partners with us in this business process. Along with this, our transit goods are coming to the country through Karachi. It harms us,” said Khanjan Alkozi, a member of the ACCI.
“Business should not be involved in politics, as with this security problem that has happened. If this problem is not solved quickly, the private sector of Afghanistan will lose millions of dollars,” said Zalamy Azimi, a member of Nangarhar’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
In the meantime, the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock said that agricultural products that should reach their target place in a short time have been stopped in Torkham crossing as a result of the situation.
The chamber asked the Islamic Emirate to make alternative ways for Afghanistan’s export goods to reach foreign countries, such as opening the air corridor and Bandar Abbas of Iran.
“We ask the Islamic Emirate to provide alternative ways for the country’s businessmen from Iran or Bandar Abbas. Because now is the season for fresh fruits and vegetables, we can transfer them to Turkey and Iraq, and there we have a good market for them,” said Wasim Safi, CEO of the Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock.
However, the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that efforts are underway to solve the challenges in Torkham crossing.
“Work is underway to resolve the issues. The issue was important because clashes happened in Torkham crossing and there were some casualties. It is natural that tensions arise, but it will not be for a long time,” Mujahid noted.
“We assure nations’ businessmen that the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will follow up this issue by talking to the officials of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Pakistan and defending the rightful interests of the businessmen of the country,” said Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
In addition to the Torkham crossing’s closing, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment reported that Pakistani authorities had suspended Afghanistan’s transit Goods Declaration (GD) documents procedures in Karachi port and that more than 2,000 containers of cargo had stopped there in the previous week.
Source : Tolo News
