Afghan-Pak Trade Relations And Regional Connectivity

The report indicates that Pakistan was the first destination for Afghan commodities and export among the regional countries in 2022. Afghanistan had exported more than $ 743 million to Pakistan, followed by India and Tajikistan, each $207 and $23, respectively .

Last year coal exports were booming to neighbouring Pakistan, and the Taliban caretaker government tripled prices for coal to raise revenue from its mining sector amid a lack of direct foreign funding. Approximately 10,000 tons of coal are exported from Afghanistan to Pakistan every day, said the Ministry of Finance's spokesperson, Ahmad Wali Haqmal.

Since the collapse of the previous government, Pakistan increased its presence in investment and aid reconstruction by more than $ 2 billion despite its cash-strapped economy. The aid includes humanitarian assistance, capacity building, and education for Afghan students and academicians, quoted by Eurasia review.

On the other hand, Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for more than four decades. In the past years, the number of Afghan refugees has increased due to the deterioration of security in the country.

Pakistan's engagement with Afghanistan has increased since August 2021 with the present administration of Kabul. The report revealed the primary reason could be the security dilemma along the Pak-Afghan border and the worsening security in the country, avoiding Afghan soil exploitation against its national security interests.

Pakistan hopes for solid security measures to be implemented by the Afghan administration to ensure security and peace in Pakistan.

Recently, Taliban Pakistan (TTP) increased its terrorist attacks in Pakistan, and the Islamic State Khorasan province committed suicide bombings and targeted attacks and killed civilians and foreign citizens in Kabul. The document stated that this was a concern for IEA officials.

Additionally, with the increased ISKP strikes, China's concern has doubled and created doubts influencing the regional states' in Afghanistan affairs to target China's national interests.

Afghanistan needs regional connectivity, transit and trade with the regional countries, particularly Pakistan. To ensure economic cooperation with Pakistan and link Central Asia with South Asia, it needs to improve its security situation and ensure the safety and security of foreign citizens to attract investment in the war-torn country.

According to the Chinese, Afghanistan is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Belt and Road Initiative. This will increase regional connectivity among the neighbouring states, central Asian countries, and Europe. It creates opportunities for Afghanistan to enhance and diversify its trade products by exporting iron, copper, and other domestic resources to the BRI nation.

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