Detail

The Afghan Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday said that Pakistan has stopped more than 500 containers of meat and eggs purchased from Indian and American companies by Afghan traders.

Claiming that food supplies are being provided for Nato troops in Afghanistan, the Pakistani officials have stopped the containers in Karachi and Peshawar cities of Pakistan, Chamber of Commerce added.

Pakistan has made business difficult for Afghanistan and stops the food trucks that are on their way to Pakistan.

"One hundred containers of meat and eggs are waiting on the ring road of Pakistan, Khanjan Alokozay, Deputy Director of Chamber of Commerce said. "And 400 more containers of meat and eggs which have been purchased from India and America and are coming in refrigerated trucks are also paused there on suspicions that they may belong to Nato or Isaf."

Some experts believe that Pakistan is trying to receive ransom from Afghanistan and the international community by putting economical pressure on Afghanistan.

"This is illegal. It not only harms the benefits of Afghanistan, but also harms the benefits of Pakistan, "Hamidullah Farouqi, Professor of Economic Faculty of Kabul University said. "Such moves are politically motivated," he added.

Meanwhile, some officials have said that Pakistan is forcing Afghan traders to buy meat and eggs from Pakistani companies. But traders say that the quality of Pakistani meat is very low and that it is also more expensive.

On the other hand, the Afghan Ministry of Commerce said that it is trying to solve the issue.

"Pakistan government didn't ask for a 1000 or 1500-dollars from Afghan traders, they only asked them to provide proof that the goods do not belong to Nato, and we haven't provided them yet.

This comes as previously Pakistan government imposed 1500 US dollars of tax on each Nato truck passing through Pakistan.

Meanwhile, experts believe that Pakistan is violating Afghan-Pakistan transit agreement.