Afghanistan and Pakistan are about to enter a new phase of cooperation in the form of trade agreements that are expected to be signed between the two countries in the coming month when the President of Pakistan visits Afghanistan on an official visit scheduled for January 07, 2009. Through the agreement, both countries will allow duty concessions on the import of certain items from each other.
The new trade/economic agreements between Pakistan and Afghanistan will have more than one important side for both countries – on economic, social, and strategic levels. The landlocked country of Afghanistan will be able to extend its foreign trade to other countries in the region via Pakistan. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will prove a land link for Pakistan to market its trade in the Central Asian countries, China, and the Middle East. While both countries have yet to finalize the agreements for trade/economic cooperation, the governments of both countries have given vibes of approval for the prospect of greater facility in mutual trade and economic cooperation.
Accompanying economic cooperation between the two countries, we can anticipate improved understanding and closer ties between the two governments on official and also between the people of the two countries on a public level. Mutual trust will be bolstered between the countries and both countries can look forward to economic prosperity through improved trade. At the same time, greater mobility between the two lands will necessitate stricter security measures in order to prevent any peace and security issues that may lead to unwanted law-and-order situation or pave the way for illegal trafficking etc.
