Afghanistan asks Pak to allow transit of Indian goods through Wagah border

Islamabad, July 7(ANI): The Afghan government has requested Pakistan to allow passage of Indian goods through Wagah border to the land-locked country.

The issue was raised during the seventh round of the Pak-Afghan Joint Working Group in Islamabad, jointly chaired by the finance ministers of the two countries.

According to reports, Pakistan had earlier denied the request in the sixth round of the Joint Working Group held in Kabul.

"We have told the brotherly nation that there are regional issues linked with trade and it would not be possible as long as smuggling is controlled. But to the benefit of Afghan exports there is no restriction on movement of their goods through Pakistan to India," The Dawn quoted a Pakistan Finance Ministry official, as saying.

It is believed that the refusal came after serious objections were raised by Pakistan's security agencies against giving permission to Indian trucks or even sealed containers moving across the country.

The Pakistani delegation was headed by Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, while the Afghan side was led by Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal and Mines Minister Wahidullah Shahrani. (ANI)