The Afghanistan-Pakistan joint Chamber of Commerce said that the Afghan and Pakistani working groups have agreed on a mechanism to increase trading, based on an agreement signed recently. Trading between Kabul and Islamabad will increase through the Torkham crossing.

This comes as commerce between the two neighboring countries has declined in recent weeks.

“We are working on the capacity of the ports, and this is a good step for Afghanistan-Pakistan trade; it will lead to the growth of trade between the two countries in the future,” said Naqibullah Safi, head of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Meanwhile, a number of traders in eastern Nangarhar province said that the trading problems at Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings have been resolved.

“With the arrival of the Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Afghanistan, the traveling conditions across Torkham have improved, exports and imports are going well, and now we have no problems in the Torkham or Spin Boldak areas,” said Zalmai Azimi, a trader.

Afghan economic experts believe that facilitating activity at the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings will increase the country’s exports because they are considered the shortest way to transport the country’s commercial goods.

“Pakistan has made promises, but it is important that they keep them, and if those promises are kept and trade increases, it will have a good impact on the country’s economy,” said Sayed Massoud, an economist.

Shopkeepers in Kabul said that opening the borders to commercial goods will reduce the prices of these goods.

“90% of the food products come from Pakistan, rice and oil come from Pakistan. If the borders stay open, it is clear that it will affect the prices of foodstuffs,” said Hamidullah, a shopkeeper in Kabul.

Pakistani newspapers have reported that the number of electric scanners at the Torkham crossing will increase to help the conditions for trade.

Afghanistan and Pakistan have many trade deals, and some of the goods are transferred from Vaga and Karachi ports of Pakistan to other countries.