Islamabad: Emphasizing its commitment to regional peace, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has assured Pakistan that Afghan soil will not be used by terrorist groups for attacks across the border. Afghan Chargé d’Affaires (CdA) Mawlawi Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb underscored this stance during a seminar in Islamabad, stressing the importance of regional stability to bolster economic cooperation. The development comes amid Pakistan’s concerns over increased terrorist activity, which reportedly spiked from 38 incidents in July to 59 in August, as per data from the Pak Institute for Peace Studies.
Regional Cooperation and Economic Opportunities
Shakeeb highlighted the vast potential of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which he believes could open doors for economic growth benefiting Afghanistan and neighboring countries. “Trilateral cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China could foster new regional partnerships,” Shakeeb remarked. He stated that Afghanistan is keen on joining BRI projects, seeing this as an avenue for substantial investment in Afghan infrastructure and as a means of strengthening ties across Central and South Asia.
Pakistan and Afghanistan Trade Relations
The Afghan CdA noted that Pakistan remains a key trade partner for Afghanistan, and the interim administration is committed to revitalizing economic and trade ties. Acknowledging recent challenges, Shakeeb stressed that both countries could mutually benefit from addressing economic and logistical barriers. He highlighted several key issues impacting trade, such as Western sanctions, frequent border closures, and sudden tariff increases, which have disrupted trade flows and posed obstacles to sustained economic exchange.
Building Trade Infrastructure and Improving Customs Processes
Shakeeb outlined Afghanistan’s ongoing efforts to improve trade and customs processes to enhance the efficiency of goods movement. He urged both countries to invest in developing infrastructure, strengthen customs facilities, and expand transportation links, which would significantly boost trade and economic opportunities. “Building mutual trust through diplomatic dialogue and sustained collaboration on trade policies is crucial to achieving long-term benefits,” he noted.
Fostering Diplomatic Engagement for Peace and Economic Stability
The Afghan CdA emphasized that maintaining stable diplomatic relations across the region is essential to building a foundation for sustained economic cooperation. He suggested that by easing economic restrictions and fostering a spirit of collaboration, both Pakistan and Afghanistan could unlock considerable trade benefits and foster a more resilient regional economy. These steps, he argued, would contribute to achieving the shared goal of peace and prosperity in the region.
Afghanistan as a Bridge Between South and Central Asia
Shakeeb also highlighted Afghanistan’s unique geographic position as a bridge connecting South and Central Asia. Afghanistan, he said, is advancing several major infrastructure projects, including the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, which Kazakhstan has shown interest in joining. Additional projects, such as the Trans-Afghan Railway and CASA-1000 energy project, are part of Afghanistan’s broader vision to facilitate regional energy and transportation corridors.
Regional Stability as a Catalyst for Economic Growth
The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) President, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, also spoke at the seminar, underscoring that regional stability, particularly in Afghanistan, is integral to fostering economic prosperity. Saleem reiterated the importance of peace as a prerequisite for enhancing intraregional trade and noted the potential for economic partnerships across South and Central Asia.
Through these discussions, Afghanistan and Pakistan demonstrated a shared commitment to peace and regional cooperation as they seek to overcome existing challenges and strengthen their economic ties.
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