Pakistan's ambassador to Afghanistan Mansoor Ahmad Khan said that the level of Afghanistan's exports to Pakistan has surged and Islamabad is working to establish two new ports with Afghanistan.

Ahmad Khan also stated that trade between Kabul and Islamabad should increase and pledged that Afghanistan's export issues in ports will be resolved.

“We have been able to insure, to get, to create some facilities for promoting business and trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, there are many areas of difficulties which still remain and in our introduction we will discuss them,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) called on the Pakistan Embassy to facilitate the use of existing ports, especially Torkham. “The five ports that are now official should [be improved] with increased infrastructure,” said Khanjan Alokozai, a board member of the ACCI.

“Twelve vehicles are parked in Boldak port at the moment and there is a problem,” said Mohammad Younes Momand, head of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment.

Officials of the ACCI said that the mechanism for barter trade has been finalized and practical steps must be taken in this regard.

“We are starting the barter trade and its mechanism is ready, and until [it is ready] Pakistan should not ask us for an EEF form,” said Khanjan Alokozai.

The Pakistani ambassador is set to have a joint meeting with Afghan businesspeople and investors next month to discuss commercial issues, although the Chamber of Commerce and Investment reports that trade between Kabul and Islamabad is now lower than in past years.