2024-07-11 17:03:29
Islamabad: The Taliban government of Afghanistan is sending a large consignment of onions to India. This consignment is coming to India via Pakistan. Traders from Kunar, Afghanistan have told that for the first time onion export has started from their area to India. The first shipment of onions will reach India in the next few days. Trader Habib Rehman told Business Recorder that we have contracted to send 8,000 tonnes of onions and trucks have started leaving for India. On one hand, the farmers and traders of Afghanistan are happy with this, on the other hand there are many concerns in Pakistan. Pakistani political commentator Qamar Cheema has questioned PM Shahbaz Sharif on this development that why is he not increasing trade between India and Afghanistan.
Qamar Cheema has said that the onions that are going to India from Afghanistan are going through Kunar region. This is a good area for agriculture but terrorist organizations have a lot of influence here. Qamar has said that if trade is happening between India and Taliban, then why can’t trade start between Pakistan and India. Why doesn’t Pakistan learn that trade should not be stopped on security matters. Cheema said that the clerics in Pakistan put pressure on the government not to trade with India after independence and till date it is suffering losses.
Increase trade across Asia: Cheema
Qamar Cheema said that sending onions from Afghanistan to India and increasing trade is a good initiative. Pakistan has always caused harm by bringing politics into trade. China and India are doing trade even while fighting. Pakistan should also learn that trade should not be harmed at any cost. Cheema said that while Pakistan is distancing itself from Afghanistan, India is getting closer to them. India has convinced the Afghan Taliban to choose Chabahar instead of Karachi for trade.
Qamar Cheema said that Pakistan created tension in relations by expelling Afghan refugees. India took advantage of this and got closer to the Taliban. Today the reality is that the Afghan Taliban has gone out of Pakistan’s hands and has come closer to India. Cheema said that not only Pakistan but India and other neighbouring countries should also think about how to increase trade with each other. He said that why can’t India, Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Nepal live like Europe where someone comes on one visa and travels everywhere. If what has started in Afghanistan and India expands to other countries as well, then it will be a great step.