Taliban welcome releases of stranded Afghan goods

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Afghanistan ruling Taliban Tuesday welcomed Pakistan governments decision to release all stuck up goods from Karachi port as well waiving off all demurrages on the items.

Taliban ambassador in Islamabad Maulvi Syed Muhammad Haqqani said Pakistan Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf has resolved the long-standing demands of Afghan government.

Pakistani authorities have ordered immediate release of 371 consignments of Afghanistan, blocked at Karachi Port due to disputes between Pakistan and Afghanistan over the imports under Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA).

These containers mainly electronics goods, auto spares and light machinery had been withheld by Pakistani authorities for several years. Islamabad complains that the goods, imported under ATTA, are mainly re-smuggled into Pakistani markets, depriving the national exchequer of at least Rs 10 billion revenue every year.

Being a landlocked country, Afghanistan has been using Pakistans Karachi port as a transit rout for import of goods under agreement signed in 60s. Nawaz Sharifs first government had imposed restrictions on the ATTA, with a plea that smuggling of the goods into Pakistan affected local industry.

Taliban and Pakistani officials have held series of talks on the issue and agreed on the settlement of several differences, however, a number of issues are yet to be resolved. Afghan sources have confirmed that a team of Taliban officials is likely to visit Pakistan shortly to talk on further issues concerning ATTA.

Pakistan asks Afghan authorities not to import 17 items under the ATTA, mainly electronic goods, as there is no use of electronic goods in Afghanistan.