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ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan and Pakistan have signed a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to reduce tariffs on eight agricultural products, the Afghan embassy in Islamabad announced on Wednesday, in a rare move of economic cooperation between the two neighbors with often-tense ties.

The agreement, signed by senior commerce officials from both countries, will reduce customs duties on four Afghan exports to Pakistan — grapes, pomegranates, apples, and tomatoes — and four Pakistani exports to Afghanistan — mangoes, kinnows, bananas, and potatoes.

Tariff rates on these items, which previously exceeded 60%, will now be capped at 27%.

“This agreement will be effective for a period of one year, commencing on August 1, 2025,” the Afghan embassy said on X.

“It is renewable and also allows for the inclusion of additional items in the future.”

The deal was signed by Mullah Ahmadullah Zahid, Deputy Minister at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and Jawad Paul, Pakistan’s Deputy Commerce Minister.

The agreement comes at a time of strained political and security relations between Kabul and Islamabad, marked by border closures, mutual accusations over cross-border militant activity, and reduced formal trade volumes since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.

Still, both countries remain heavily reliant on overland trade routes, and fruit exports have long played a vital role in seasonal cross-border commerce.

In the first half of 2025, Pakistan and Afghanistan’s bilateral trade reached nearly $1 billion, with Afghan exports to Pakistan totaling $277 million and Pakistan’s exports to Afghanistan reaching $712 million. This growth is partly attributed to increased Pakistani exports, including medical supplies, parboiled rice, and sugar. However, trade volume is still below potential, with estimates suggesting it could reach $8 to $10 billion annually if obstacles are overcome.

Obstacles to trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan include border closures, security concerns, and issues with trade facilitation. Specifically, frequent closures of border crossing points like Torkham and Spin Boldak, triggered by political tensions or security incidents, disrupt trade flows and cause financial losses for businesses. Additionally, challenges related to trade facilitation, customs procedures, and transit infrastructure further hinder the smooth movement of goods.

ISLAMABAD: Richard Grenell, the US Envoy for Special Missions under President Donald Trump, met with the jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sons in California on Wednesday and renewed calls for their father’s release, describing his imprisonment as “political prosecution.”

A close aide to the US president, Grenell has been a vocal supporter of Khan in recent months. His endorsement is seen as symbolically significant by supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party who are seeking international attention on the issue.

In a post on social media platform X, Grenell shared a photo with Sulaiman and Kasim Khan, saying:

“You must stay strong. There are millions of people around the world who are sick of political prosecutions. You are not alone. #FreeImranKhan.”

The meeting comes as PTI prepares to launch a protest campaign in Pakistan demanding Khan’s release. The party has announced that Khan’s sons, who have largely avoided political engagement, will also participate in the campaign.

Khan, 71, has been jailed since August 2023 and is currently serving a sentence on a number of charges. PTI says he faces more than 100 legal cases, all of which he calls politically motivated.

PTI also remains under pressure, with several senior leaders behind bars and others in hiding or facing legal challenges. Rights groups have accused Pakistani authorities of cracking down on dissent and curbing space for political opposition.

In a rare social media post last month, Khan’s sons raised concerns about their father’s prison conditions and called for his release, saying they feared for his health and well-being.

The PTI has yet to finalize details of its planned protest campaign, expected to begin in early August to coincide with the second anniversary of Khan’s arrest.

The party has framed the movement as a democratic struggle for civil liberties and judicial independence.