Tensions with Pakistan to bankrupt Afghanistan.

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(Nov 30, 2015)

President Pakistan Businessmen & Intellectuals Forum (PBIF), All Karachi Industrial Alliance and First Vice Chairman of the Businessmen Panel of FPCCI Mian Zahid Hussain on Monday said tensions with Pakistan over land route to India has the potential to drive shambling Afghan economy to Stone Age.

Afghan economy is highly dependent on Pakistan therefore policymakers in Kabul should not dance on the tune of India, it said.

How come a country that cannot feed its own people can think of blocking Pakistan trade with central Asia on the behest of New Delhi, said Mian Zahid Hussain.

He said that Afghanistan has committed a blunder by denying land route to Pakistan which can result in bankruptcy of that country in case Islamabad retaliated.

Mian Zahid Hussain further said that the move can cast negative shadow on exports and plans to import gas and electricity from Central Asia through CASA 1000 but there are other dimensions to the problems which Kabul cannot afford.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have issues like refugees, smuggling of narcotics, arms and ammunition and other articles, militancy and differences over counter insurgency operations.

Both the countries should try to resolve issues like absence of insurance mechanism, want of dispute resolution system, lack of banking channels, issues pertaining to payments, and documentation.

He said that Afghanistan is already facing trouble as reduction in Nato forces has condensed international aid therefore it should not open another front with Pakistan on which it rely heavily.

The two countries have decided to boost trade to five billion dollars by 2017 which needs cordial relations and tensions will not help anyone.

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