ISLAMABAD, May 16: Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to thrash out differences over Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA) as the visiting trade delegation from Kabul could not hold out any guarantee against smuggling of goods back into Pakistan.

As a result, the two sides did not sign a joint communique at the end of their four-day talks, official sources told Dawn.

Afghanistan had demanded of Pakistan to take 17 items off the negative list of Afghan transit trade. Pakistan had no objection to doing so, but it sought guarantee from the visiting team that these items would not be transported back here, these sources said.

The Afghan trade delegation was of the view that hundred per cent guarantee on the subject could not be provided for the next five to six months in the prevailing situation. Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood told the delegation that removal of 17 items from the negative list would be delayed for six months.

Afghans had taken the stand that shaving kits, shaving foam and electronics items, particularly television sets, banned during the Taliban regime, were no more luxury items and had in fact now become essential commodities in Afghanistan.

Islamabad believed that most of these items were being smuggled into Pakistan, with electronics items particularly causing big loss to the national economy.

These sources said the two sides had agreed to amend the 1965 bilateral protocol on ATTA to also include Port Qasim and National Logistics Cell trucks for transportation of goods to Afghanistan. They also okayed draft amendments to the protocol.

The amendments have been routed through the foreign office of Pakistan for review by Afghanistan authorities. Formal ratification by the two sides will follow soon.

Islamabad has refused to allow transportation of Indian goods to Kabul through Wagah border because of Pakistan’s tense relations with India. Pakistan has, however, no objection to transport Afghan goods to India through Wagah route.