KABUL: Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to form a high-level committee to address border issues as National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf concluded a two-day visit to Kabul.
The development comes weeks after videos circulated on social media purportedly showing Taliban fighters uprooting a portion of the fence along the Pak-Afghan border.
According to a statement shared on Twitter by Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul, Mansoor Khan, the NSA called on Afghanistan Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Salam Hanafi and Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to “discuss the current situation in Afghanistan and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries”.
The focus of the visit of NSA Moeed Yusuf to Kabul on 29-30 January was on increasing facilitation in trade, transit, business and humanitarian engagement https://t.co/Gf0Ndo2j3C
— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) January 30, 2022
“Both sides agreed to establish a national-level coordination mechanism for enhancing facilitation at border crossing points and to expedite ongoing negotiations to conclude a new trade agreement,” the statement added.
The 2010 Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) expired on February 11, but both sides have not yet reached a new agreement. The statement further stated the objective of the visit was to discuss with the Afghan leadership the humanitarian requirements of the country and “Pakistan’s proposals for deepening economic engagement to overcome the current challenges “.
It added that Special Envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq and senior officials from relevant ministries were part of the delegation that accompanied the NSA. Yusuf also held delegation-level meetings with Afghan ministers and senior officials dealing with humanitarian and economic issues.
“The visit yielded substantive outcomes in terms of forward movement on trade facilitation and social sector support […] both sides also agreed to initiate barter trade, modalities for which will be worked out immediately,” the statement said.
During the visit, Pakistan offered Afghanistan capacity-building and training support in multiple sectors including health, education, banking, customs, railways and aviation.
The statement said both sides also reiterated their commitment to the early completion of three major connectivity projects: the Central Asia South Asia Electricity Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000), the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline (TAPI), and Trans-Afghan Rail project.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Khan said that the NSA and the Pakistani delegation also visited Jinnah Hospital in Kabul which was built by Pakistan.
NSA Moeed Yusuf & Pak del visited Jinnah hospital Kabul, built by Pakistan. The delegation saw its facilities & current operations. Director Jinnah Hospital apprised about challenges due to the financial situation. Pakistan side reiterated its continued support to the hospital. pic.twitter.com/5yWPH62ut2
— Mansoor Ahmad Khan (@ambmansoorkhan) January 30, 2022
“The delegation saw its facilities and current operations. The Jinnah Hospital director apprised [them] about challenges [being faced] due to the financial situation,” he said, adding that Pakistan reiterated its continued support to the hospital.
