Pakistan and Afghanistan have resumed talks to iron out differences on a transit treaty after a three-year hiatus, says a media report.
Talks between the neighbors had collapsed in September 2015 after Kabul insisted on including India in the transit deal negotiations and a trilateral trade agreement involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
The breakthrough came after President Ashraf Ghani met Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad on June 27 when the two sides agreed to deepen trade relations.
On Friday, a Technical Working Group (TWG) of Afghan officials met Adviser to PM on Commerce Abdul RazakDawood and the two sides exchanged concerns and proposals.
During the meeting, Dawood complained to Afghan officials over the unchecked pilferage of goods through transit trade and asked them to address the issue.
He also asked officials to submit their revised drafts on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) which has been pending since 2017.
On the other hand, the Afghan side agreed to increase bilateral trade through mutual cooperation by addressing all issues which are negatively affecting trade relations.
The official leading Afghan delegation proposed a joint commission to resolve issues including transit trade.
He stressed the need to translate the political will of both countries to revive trade ties by cooperating on technical level, including an understanding between customs authorities on both sides.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries President Daroo Khan Achakzai welcomed the revival of talks between the two countries on trade issues.
