Pak-Afghan Transit Agreement puts Pak FO on the wrong foot

Islamabad, May 15 (ANI): The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) had denied reports that the Transit Trade Agreement signed between Pakistan and Afghanistan would also provide India a direct route to Afghanistan through the Wagah border, but the text of the accord has put it on wrong foot.

According to the document, the second clause of the agreement clearly mentions that not only would Afghanistan get access to the sea route, but it could also find new avenues to India and China for similar purposes.

Similarly, the agreement mentions that Pakistan too can have access to Central Asia through the Afghan transit route, The Nation reports.

Besides transit rights, access to a third country will also be granted so that all the three countries carry out trade activities with each other hassle free.

India has also been made a party in the agreement that has been inked between Pakistan and Afghanistan during the recent meeting in Washington.

The agreement may well be seen as a boon for the trade ties between India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but strategic experts are of the view that it could prove detrimental for Pakistan in future. (ANI)