Amritsar traders upbeat over Afghan Foreign Minister visit

Hopes of Amritsar traders have come alive after Afghanistan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks with the Indian government in New Delhi.

They feel that there will be over 20 per cent fall in the prices of dry fruit, fresh fruit, spices and herbs, currently being imported from Afghanistan through sea route, once the solitary trade land route between India and landlocked Afghanistan through the Attari border resumes.

The integrated check port (ICP) at Attari has been lying closed for the past nearly five months after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack, announced several significant decisions, including the immediate closure of the ICP at Attari.

A day later, Pakistan suspended all trade, including transit trade, with third countries on April 24.

The ICP at the Attari-Wagah border is the only land access point for trading with Afghanistan. The move halted annual trade worth nearly Rs 3,886 crore.

The move led to increase in the prices of Afghan-origin products in the domestic retail market by 25 to 30 per cent. Gurbandi almonds, available at Rs 700 per kg before April, are now sold in retail for about Rs 900. Sundekhani kishmish (a variety of raisins) has climbed from Rs 400 to over Rs 600 per kg.

A fresh fruit importer Rajdeep Singh Uppal, former president of the Confederation of International Chamber of Commerce, said the visit of the Afghan minister raised their hope for the resumption of import through Attari which would not only bring down the prices of Afghan products but also increase their sales. In the current festival season and start of winters, people prefer to buy Afghan dry fruit and fresh fruit.

Its grapes, melon and pomegranate are much sought-after for their unique taste.