India's long-standing demand for allowing Afghanistan-bound Indian goods to transit through Pakistan through Wagah has been rejected once again. As per the contours of the understanding reached between Afghanistan and Pakistan on Sunday evening for transit trade, Afghanistan can export into India via Wagah but cannot import through the same route.
The broad-based record note was signed on Sunday at the Pakistan Prime Minister's house in the presence of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. According to an official statement on the agreement, “it has been agreed that no Indian export to Afghanistan will be allowed through Wagah. However, Afghanistan would have the opportunity to export to India. Reciprocally, Pakistan would be able to export its goods to Central Asia through Afghanistan.''
The note signed by Pakistan's Commerce Minister Makhdoom Muhammad Amin Fahim and his Afghan counterpart, Anwar-ul-Haq Ahady mentions that Afghan trucks will be allowed to carry transit export cargo on designated routes to Pakistani seaports and Wagah.
The Afghan transport units, on return, shall be permitted to carry goods from Pakistan to Afghanistan under the same expeditious procedures and conditions as Pakistani transport units.
