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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan Delays Implementation of Afghan Transit Pact |
| 2011-02-14 |
| [Tolo News] Pakistain has postponed implementation of trade transit agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistain, while the pact was expected to be implemented today. Pakistain, by doing so, wants to make time to apply tougher regulations on Afghan traders, officials in Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries said Sunday. Officials in Islamabad have recently announced that they could not provide security to Afghan trade containers running through Pakistain and Afghan traders each should pay two million Rupees for their goods' security. Based on the agreement Afghan trucks could travel in Pakistain without any obstacle, something that Pakistain is reluctant about, ACCI officials said. They want the pact to be more in favour of Pakistain, a bigwig in ACCI said. "They want to make use of the agreement as a political instrument," said Khanjan Alekozai Deputy Head of ACCI. Meanwhile, ...back at the ranch... the US Department of State Sunday announced the postponement of high-level trilateral talks between Afghanistan, Pakistain and the US. The talks were scheduled to be held on 23-24 February. It is believed that the postponement has been made based on new series of political changes in Pakistain. "In light of the political changes in Pakistain and after discussions with Afghan and Pak officials in Washington, it was agreed to postpone the trilateral meeting scheduled for 23-24 February," State Department front man Mr PJ Crowley said in a statement. Once again some Afghan MPs accused Pakistain of playing double against Afghanistan and war on terrorism. Pakistain has long been criticised by international community and officials in Kabul of not having an honest fight against regional insurgency, a claim that is denied by Islamabad. But what has angered Afghan MPs, experts and people is the government's week stance against Pakistain. |
| Posted by:Fred |