Afghan envoy refutes closing land route for Pak trucks

KABUL (Web Desk) - Afghan President’s special envoy and Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal  has refuted claims that it has shut down any land route for Pakistani trucks here on Friday.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalted after Uri attack in India when Afghanistan apparently took sides with India threatening Pakistan of blocking the land route for access to central Asian countries.

Pakistan allows Afghan trucks to unload their India-bound goods at Wagah on the Pakistani side, but Kabul wants the trucks to be allowed to deliver goods at Attari in India.

“We have the right to adopt a reciprocal treatment but we do not consider it (to be) in the (best) interest of our people and our country and it is (also) not helpful for Pakistan’s trade,” he said.

“If you visit Torkham, you will see that 70 to 80 per cent of trucks crossing in and out of Afghanistan are Pakistani owned and registered. If you check the trucks at Pul-i-Charkhi area of Kabul you would see Pakistani trucks moving in both directions,” he maintained.