Pak-Afghan Transit Trade Talks Today

ISLAMABAD: The fifth round of Pak-Afghan Transit Trade has begun in the federal capital.

Both the countries are mulling over removing stumbling blocks in achieving the trade agreement (ATTA) in the three-day negotiations.

Afghan deputy Trade Minister Adib Farhadi is heading his delegation; while, Federal Trade Secretary Zafar Mehmood is leading Pakistani side at the talks.

According to Trade Ministry sources, Afghanistan wants Pakistan to allow Indian products to be routed through Pakistan to Afghanistan. However, Pakistan demands to regularize the informal trade; but, Afghanistan is not willing, causing the deadlock in previous rounds of talks.

Besides, Pakistan demanded to stanch smuggling across Afghanistan, the sources added.