ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, met the Afghan minister of economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, on Tuesday and discussed trade and transit projects, as the Pakistani cabinet approved a decision to include Afghan nationals on its business visas list.
Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15, the country — already struggling with drought and severe poverty following decades of war — has seen its economy all but collapse. Pakistan has been calling on the world to continue development and humanitarian aid to the war-torn country to avoid a humanitarian disaster.
Most Western nations, however, are so far linking continuation of aid to the interim Taliban government fulfilling its promises on rights, particularly for women, and on not allowing Afghanistan to be used as a terror sanctuary in the future.
“Called on H.E. Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, Afghan Minister of Economy, and discussed deepening Pakistan-Afghanistan economic cooperation through enhanced trade, transit & regional connectivity in infrastructure and energy transmission ,” the ambassador said on Twitter.
On Tuesday, the Pakistani cabinet approved the inclusion of Afghan businessmen in its business visas list.
“Cabinet also approved the abolition of visa fees for Pakistani visas for Afghans coming to Pakistan,” a statement from Prime Minister’s office said.
This week, the European Union said it will give an additional 700 million euros ($809.2 million) in emergency aid to Afghanistan and its neighboring countries.
The pledge takes the total commitment of new funding to 1 billion euros after the EU executive’s earlier promise of 300 million euros to help to prevent basic services in Afghanistan from collapsing and food from running out.