Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has issued a decree banning Pakistani trucks from entering the country via the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings, ToloNews reported.
The Afghan Transport Ministry confirmed the move on Sunday, saying that trucks would only be allowed up to the border crossings, at which point the trucks will have to offload their goods and transfer them to Afghan trucks, according to ToloNews.
"The Afghanistan and Pakistan Trade Agreement (APTA) has expired. Before this Pakistan did not allow Afghan trucks to enter its territory. So we [will] do the same, and after this Pakistani trucks will be unloaded at borders and Afghan trucks will carry the goods to Hairatan and Shir Khan ports," Transport Ministry Spokesman Hekmatullah Qawanch said.
It is believed that Ghani's decree will provide a greater number of job opportunities for truckers and transit companies. "Currently there is no work for transit companies and the drivers are at home," a director of a transport company, Abdul Ghafoor Norzai, said.
"Pakistani trucks go to every part of our country, but our trucks are not allowed to enter Pakistan. We want the government to do the same to Pakistan and also help us to be allowed to enter neighbouring countries," said Abdul Rauf, the head of a transport company.
The Afghan Transport Ministry said Kabul would sign transit agreements with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan soon, on the basis of which Afghan trucks would be allowed to enter the three countries, ToloNews reported.
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Comments (86) Closed
Oct 23, 2017 02:27pm
Good step at least in current scenario we can not afford Afghan trucks crossing border freely and entering Pakistan same is true for Afghanistan may be in some distant future these terms could be relaxed. Just need to develop efficient transit mechanism to make all transition speedy and efficient. Right step in right direction
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Oct 23, 2017 02:34pm
And we are still requesting him to please visit Pakistan...
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Oct 23, 2017 02:34pm
Then they should build a dry port on the Afghan side...
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Oct 23, 2017 02:37pm
fair enough.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:39pm
Sounds so kiddish!!
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Oct 23, 2017 02:40pm
Good move no complaints here.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:40pm
Iran's Chabahar port (operational from 2018) will improve trade between landlocked Afghanistan and India, Iran, Bangladesh.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:40pm
President of Kabul shouldn't be issuing decrees.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:46pm
Sounds fair?
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Oct 23, 2017 02:53pm
A fair deal by Ghani. Equal grounding for business.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:55pm
Tit for Tat diplomacy which makes sense
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Oct 23, 2017 02:57pm
Sounds reasonable, when we do not allow Afghan drivers from entering our country the same should happenin Afghanistan.
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Oct 23, 2017 02:59pm
Its alright. With the degree of mistrust perceived or real, its better to have stronger boundaries. You are responsible for what happens in your, and we, for our country. This might remove at least remove one excuse in blame game.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:00pm
Good move.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:06pm
The Chabahar port is already operational.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:13pm
Well done Afghanistan.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:21pm
Its natural. Especially looking at the events took place in last couple of days.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:21pm
Good move Ashraf Ghani, Now I know you was second in command in IMF and a genius.
It will create more jobs for Afghans.
RESPECT !
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Oct 23, 2017 03:25pm
Iron Man.... Ashraf Ghani
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Oct 23, 2017 03:25pm
Please also take all your refuges back.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:26pm
Good move. Lets ban everything on both side of the boarder to be transported
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Oct 23, 2017 03:32pm
Good job afghanisthan. Indian built chabhar port will give you further access to Indian Iranian and other markets around the world.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:34pm
Good move... Afghanistan has the right to protect its interests.....
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Oct 23, 2017 03:35pm
Good job afghanisthan. India-built chabhar port will give you further access to other markets around the world.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:36pm
**Nice by move Ashraf Ghani by banning Pakistani trucks. Now they must be offloaded and we will know what is loaded on those trucks, inspect them properly then allow them to enter Afghanistan. BRAVO!!!**
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Oct 23, 2017 03:44pm
It is fair that all trade and transit arrangements carry reciprocal facilities which are two way.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:47pm
looks fair ..
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Oct 23, 2017 03:49pm
Good step in the right direction. Cannot have one way arrangement only.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:52pm
Why should transport arrangement be one sided in Pakistan's favour? Agreements should be on reciprocal basis. Great decision which will create many jobs in Afghanistan.
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Oct 23, 2017 03:59pm
Nice move which made an header but seems nobody knows that already most of this transportation was done by afghans who are well settled in Pakistan.
Bravo Ashraf ghani and advisors.
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Oct 23, 2017 04:02pm
This will employ lot of labour in both sides of border areas and will thus generate employment for thousands of people.
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Oct 23, 2017 04:50pm
Bravo Ashraf Ghani. Iron man and a genius.
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Oct 23, 2017 05:22pm
Proud of you Ghani if Pakistan dont allow ours why should we its only fair
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Oct 23, 2017 05:22pm
In any case, they arehave to carry on their trade through Pakistan. We should levy tax on this trade for using our infrastructure.
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Oct 23, 2017 06:30pm
Good move
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Oct 24, 2017 12:45am
Pakistan in return shoul throw out all afghanistanies over to India via wagha border.
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Oct 24, 2017 01:48am
Everybody trying to act in their best interests. Luckily, Pakistan is not selfish, so it is acting in the best interests of Chinese.
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Oct 24, 2017 05:02am
Open up all facilities instead closing the existing.
Also open free trade with India.Avail comfort from
all neighbors.
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Oct 24, 2017 05:52am
@Medu
Let Pakistan give back the loved once and property lost by the Afghan due to Pakistan strategic depth policy !!
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Oct 24, 2017 06:50am
We wont allow their trucks and they wont allow our trucks. Fair is Fair.
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Oct 24, 2017 07:11am
One step forward and two steps backwards! This is the reality of Afghanistan Pakistan friendship ! Afghanistan will never change !
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Oct 24, 2017 07:13am
@M. Emad My ears are swollen with this news !
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Oct 24, 2017 07:36am
One by one country are now no more interesting to do business . What this show .
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Oct 24, 2017 09:15am
This move will raise the cost of of goods and will hurt Afghan traders and customer more than Pakistan's.
From political point of view, the Afghan authorities did this just before the visit of the Afghan president to India, apparently in a bid to please Indians.
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Oct 24, 2017 12:54pm
@timetostopthis ok than please take back afghan refugees from Pakistan
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Oct 24, 2017 01:12pm
As you sow so shall you reap, a bitter reality
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Oct 24, 2017 03:49pm
Inflation can easily be controlled in Pakistan if all exports to Afghanistan is stopped.
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Oct 24, 2017 04:03pm
Fair enough.
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Oct 24, 2017 04:37pm
@POONAWALA : ok than please take back afghan refugees from Pakistan..
ok then, first please stop taking money from UN for looking after them.
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Oct 24, 2017 04:47pm
Every one welcoming Afghanistan's decision have overlooked the added cost and
time.
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Oct 24, 2017 04:53pm
Please take back all the refugees too .
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Oct 24, 2017 07:38pm
Good enough. Your trucks stay there ours stay here.
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Oct 24, 2017 07:57pm
@Gautam What that port has to do with Afghan trucking from Pakistan border? Indians have one goal to let Pakistan down. Remember Afghans and Pakistanis have deep rooted relationships which Indians cannot replace.
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Oct 24, 2017 07:59pm
First fall out of Chabahar port getting operational. Pak is fast alienating itself from all its neighbors with all eggs in one basket (CPEC). While its government wants to play cricket with India and earn money, it does not want to do any trade/business with them. This in-spite of India offering MFN status to it. Absolute double standards and totally detrimental to Pak economy.
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Oct 24, 2017 08:35pm
That is great. Disconnect with Pakistan to solve 90% of your problem.
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Oct 24, 2017 08:38pm
A stupid Afghani administrators. Should Pakistan stop all Afghan truck plying in Pakistan, being used by the construction industry for hauling construction material and buses plying on the road. Markets owned by Afghani's should also be closed? The answer is NO.
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Oct 24, 2017 08:58pm
All of sudden there is rush of Indians posing Afghans praising Mr. Ghani's decree and deep up to their necks in creating transportation jobs is nothing but wishful thinking. Afghanistan is in the middle of worst suicide bombings in months as if jobs creation happens in a vaccum while bombing go unchecked and both can coexist together nicely? Indians please don't make a fool of yourself of creating an allusion of a progressive Afghanistan that is not there.This is pure baldardesh as Afghaistan is in dire situation and Taliban their existential threat is not a joke that can be denied or washed away with Ghani's useless decree to divert attention from the real issue.
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Oct 24, 2017 09:04pm
If it was good for Pakistan not to allow trucks from Afghanistan, then it should be good for Afghanistan not to allow truck from Pakistan.
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Oct 24, 2017 09:05pm
Very good. No need for Afghan trucks or Pakistani trucks to go here and there. Seal the border, let them trade with rocks and mountains.. and Indians who will need to use our air space if they want to economically access Afghanistan too.
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Oct 24, 2017 10:09pm
Good Move. appreciated Ghani have sole right to decide in favour of its nation. we are not selfish and support who ever work for our deprived brothers and sisters of Afghanistan.
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Oct 24, 2017 10:26pm
Nice by move Afgan President
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Oct 24, 2017 10:35pm
Are we still giving them food?
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Oct 24, 2017 10:40pm
Good step Mr. Ghani. Now the first order of the day, should be to pick up every Afghan from Pakistan, including their embassy and consulates, load them in the trucks and dump them at the border. Let Mr. Ghani handle the rest.
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Oct 24, 2017 11:04pm
Next move: Do we need to keep these border crossings open.. get 3 Million Afghans as well the other 3 millions who have illegally got Pakistan ID cards but came in as refugees out into their country and close the border.
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Oct 25, 2017 12:00am
Afghanistan taking steps in the right direct to build itself. Cannot be blackmailed anymore.
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Oct 25, 2017 12:03am
There are no Afghan refugees in Pakistan. They are all Muslims and Pakistan was made for muslims. No one needs to move any where else.
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Oct 25, 2017 12:06am
Great initiative towards OBOR initiative. Unload and Load at every international boundary.
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Oct 25, 2017 12:12am
Dont allow Afghan Trucks to enter Pakistan.. its way to export terrorism to Pakistan...NO trucks please
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Oct 25, 2017 12:52am
@khan Idiotic views. The chabahar port route to India does not add much cost as its a two way traffic unlike through pakistan. Plus much lesser excise duty. Overall pakistans trade with central asia comes to standstill and looses afghan market also. Everyone can see who the real loser is going to be.
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Oct 25, 2017 01:08am
Seems fair since we did not allow their trucks through either.
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Oct 25, 2017 02:30am
Excellent step by our afghan brothers.
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Oct 25, 2017 04:04am
I strongly suggest to make all Afghans with trucks in Pakistan to be sent back, these truckers have taken thousands of jobs from Pakistani truckers for decades now. Its time Pakistani truck owners get whats rightfully theirs. Pakistan Zindabad.
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Oct 25, 2017 04:50am
we need to send the afghan refugee's back
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Oct 25, 2017 04:59am
Pakistan should close its borders and all kinds of trades with Afghanistan. Let them trade with India....and have fun.
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Oct 25, 2017 05:10am
Ohh That means they will use us as transporter and they will have custody of goods finally.
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Oct 25, 2017 05:16am
It seems they want a tit for tat policy .. so how about Mr Ghani also host 3-5 Million Pakistanis in their country and provide them with free education, healthcare and job opportunities.? No? then please take back your fellow citizens as you seem to have an autonomous country.
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Oct 25, 2017 05:40am
Good , stay put in your territory. We are better off.
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Oct 25, 2017 07:27am
look who is talking? Is a landlocked country in this position?
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Oct 25, 2017 08:44am
@Medu "Please also take all your refuges back."
Give all the money US and other countries gave you to serve them.
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Oct 25, 2017 09:35am
And that will do what?
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Oct 25, 2017 10:20am
@Khan USA : afghanistan , iran, india, us, the world except china will never change. so its time to look, who actually needs to change
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Oct 25, 2017 12:04pm
Please put a block and stop the Afghan Transit via Pakistan also as it is damaging Pakistan economy as-well. High time to send all the Afghans back once and for all.
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Oct 25, 2017 12:14pm
@Nomi Goraya agreed.
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Oct 25, 2017 01:18pm
Economy suffers and financial losses incur when you maintain a hostile border. Peace brings prosperity.
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Oct 25, 2017 01:29pm
@Khurshid Ahmad Khan It appears that the economic strategy of Pakistan is to run their economy by charging the Americans and Afghanis for transit through Pakistan. Would the same apply to the Chinese for CPEC?
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Oct 25, 2017 01:29pm
@Ali Where does India come into the picture?
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