Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders on Tuesday said Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly Islamic countries tied in cultural and economic bonds, therefore, they should try to become close friends. Frequent tensions between the two neighboring countries are not in the interest of anyone, therefore, cordial ties should be promoted, it said.

Tensions between two countries and lack of interest on the part of policymakers of the two countries have not allowed the decision taken in 2015 to increase bilateral trade by 2017, said Patron Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders Shahid Rasheed Butt.

Cordial relations are also important for Pakistan to materialize plans to explore central Asia and import energy, he added. Shahid Rasheed Butt said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are big trade partners despite difference over issues relating to refugees, smuggling, and ways to handle terrorism. Bilateral trade continues to face problems like lack of insurance facilities, personal security risks, taxation issues, little banking and payment mechanisms, and weak dispute resolution and documentation, he added. The business leader said that Afghanistan is the only bridge for Pakistan to reach central Asia offering limitless opportunities.

Pakistan and Afghanistan decided in 2015 to boost bilateral trade by 100 percent to five billion dollars annually but no enthusiasm was witnessed and trade barriers were not removed. He said that closing borders amid tensions in not in the interest of Pakistan as our traders face more losses than their Afghan counterparts.