ISLAMABAD (PR): This is with reference to the editorial ‘Losing our Staple’ published in The Nation of 28th October 2014. It is reported that India is seeking permission to export large quantities of wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistan’s land route, which would be detrimental to our flour milling industry.
It is clarified that under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), signed in 2010, exports from India, including wheat, are not allowed in transit to Afghanistan through Wagha border. Hence the question of export of Indian wheat to Afghanistan through Wagha land route does not arise. Ministry of Commerce has neither received any request from Indian side to allow Indian exports, including wheat, in transit to Afghanistan through Wagha border nor is there any proposal to allow such transit facility to India being considered in the Ministry of Commerce.