Islamabad (Khyber Mail): Afghanistan’s economic connectivity and trade potential remain constrained by regional security concerns, particularly those of its neighboring countries, said Director General of the Pak-Afghan Youth Forum, Salman Javed. Speaking at a roundtable discussion organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) on Wednesday, Javed stressed that addressing security challenges was critical for fostering economic ties and regional integration.
Javed urged policymakers to view Pak-Afghan economic relations in a broader framework encompassing security, diplomacy, and people-to-people interactions. He referenced the theory of complex interdependence by Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, emphasizing that economic, security, and social issues are deeply interconnected.
The Taliban government’s alleged support for various terrorist groups, he noted, remains the primary hurdle in improving diplomatic and economic relations with Pakistan and other regional players. Additionally, trade barriers such as anti-smuggling measures, import restrictions, tariff hikes, and periodic border closures have further impeded economic collaboration.
While significant projects like the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline and the Central Asia-South Asia transmission line (CASA-1000) hold promise for regional connectivity, Javed highlighted that they are still far from completion. However, he lauded initiatives like the Pak-Afghan Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), established in 2011, which continues to play an active role in strengthening trade ties. He suggested further engagement with PAJCCI to explore ideas such as the creation of border markets and special economic zones (SEZs).
Javed called on the Taliban-led government to take concrete and verifiable actions against terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory to alleviate security concerns among its neighbors, particularly Pakistan. He also advocated for trade facilitation through digitalized border procedures, regional preferential trade agreements, and infrastructure development. Other proposals included activating the Khyber Pass Economic Corridor (KPEC), enhancing trade diversification into sectors such as mining, agriculture, and energy, and leveraging regional platforms like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
In his concluding remarks, IRS President Ambassador Jauhar Saleem warned that terrorism was not only undermining Afghanistan’s diplomatic relations with Pakistan but also limiting trade and economic partnerships with the Central Asian Republics. He emphasized the need for a collective regional approach to tackle Afghanistan’s security challenges while simultaneously working towards shared economic prosperity.