Pakistan and Kazakhstan agree on trade corridor via Afghanistan

KABUL: Pakistan and Kazakhstan have reached an agreement to establish a trade transport corridor through Afghanistan, to enhance regional connectivity. During the signing ceremony with Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of Kazakhstan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the trade corridor will transit through Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan before reaching Pakistan. Under this agreement, Pakistan will provide Kazakhstan with full access to its transit infrastructure and ports. Prime Minister Sharif remarked, “There are significant energy opportunities for both countries, and our cooperation will be a win-win situation. Furthermore, there are many areas for interaction in culture and information.” He described Kazakhstan as a strategic partner and one of Pakistan’s most valuable allies in Central Asia, emphasizing that the signing of this agreement would strengthen the bilateral relations and provide a fresh impetus for collaboration. The Taliban has not yet commented on this trade corridor, which connects Pakistan to Europe. However, border and trade crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan have remained closed for nearly four months due to border tensions. Delegations from Pakistan and the Taliban have held several rounds of talks in Doha, Istanbul, and Riyadh, but none of these negotiations have led to the reopening of the crossings.