India accepts Afghan offer to use Wagah border for trade

NEW DELHI: As India and Afghanistan on Monday got down to implementing their strategic partnership pact in the form of the first Partnership Council meeting, which was chaired by foreign minister S M Krishna and his counterpart Zalmai Rassoul, Afghan authorities sought go-ahead to export their most cherished product - dry fruits and sweets - to India via the Wagah border. Government sources said that India had willingly accepted the offer, and that both the countries will try and convince Pakistan to facilitate the move.

Now, most of India's dry fruit imports from Afghanistan are routed through Iran. The Afghan delegation said in the meeting that transporting these directly to India through the India-Pakistan land border will ensure better returns for Afghan businessmen.

Source: TOI