From: Ina Iankulova (iiankulova@sorosny.org)
Date: Wed Apr 23 2003 - 13:06:27 EDT
AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN DISCUSS BILATERAL TRADE
Chairman Karzai said during his news conference in Islamabad that he wants the volume of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan to increase, "The New York Times," reported on 23 April. According to Karzai, exports from Pakistan to Afghanistan stood at $270 million over the past nine months, compared to Pakistan's import of $35 million worth of goods from Afghanistan, "The Hindu" reported on 23 April. Pakistan exported much more to Afghanistan during the Taliban's rule, as Islamabad was the main and in some ways, the sole, partner of the internationally isolated regime. Recent border incursions and attacks on roads between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also hampered the flow of goods between the two states. In March, Islamabad refused a request by Kabul to allow Indian goods to pass through the Wagah border crossing in Pakistan's Punjab Province on their way to Afghanistan (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 1 April 2003). Pakistan is concerned about the improvement of relations between New Delhi and Kabul. AT
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