The strategic importance of the ATQ AQ project was reinforced by the implicit failure of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. Afghanistan has insisted that India be included in its bilateral transit trade as a condition of Pakistan`s access to Central Asia, and has even threatened to suspend the agreement if it is not reciprocal. Tensions between Pakistan and India have made such an agreement uncomfortable. Uzbekistan is applying to accede to the Quadrilateral Agreement on Transit Traffic (AQQ), a transit trade agreement between Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan aimed at facilitating the movement of goods and traffic. The strategic importance of this project diminished when Afghanistan provided Pakistan with access to Central Asia through the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement. In recent years, however, Afghanistan has insisted that India be included in its bilateral transit trade to allow Pakistan access to Central Asia, and has even threatened to suspend the agreement if it is not reciprocal. Tensions between Pakistan and India have made such an agreement difficult. QTTA offers Pakistan an alternative gateway to Central Asia by completely bypassing Afghanistan. It would use the Karakoram Highway, which connects Gilgit-Baltistan to China`s Xinjiang region, which connects to Central Asia. [1] The Quadrilateral Agreement on Transit Traffic (ATQ) (معاہدہِ چار طرفہ ٹریفک گذرگاہ) is a transit trade agreement between China, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan aimed at facilitating transit traffic and trade. In February 2017, Tajikistan expressed interest in joining the agreement. [1] A similar desire to join the agreement was expressed by Uzbekistan in May 2020[2] The first work on this road project began in 1995. The CARs, which are landlocked, must have access to seaports.

QQTA opens the door that connects China`s Xinjiang region to Gilgit-Baltistan as a transit tunnel. In 2016, Pakistan submitted an official request to build the road that connects Ishkashim to Chitral. The transport of goods to the Contracting Parties shall be carried out without customs duties. Tajikistan`s request and approval to join the Quadrilateral Agreement on Transit Traffic (TQA) when Kabul turned its fingers to conclude a transit agreement with Islamabad is a major coup. The agreement originally concluded between Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, China and Kazakhstan to facilitate the transit of goods and traffic will give a major boost to those countries of the Central Asian Republic that bypass Afghanistan and rely on the Karakoram highway via China as an alternative route. Pakistan is in an advantageous position to gain access to Central Asian countries without Afghanistan. Kabul appears to have stepped on its own feet by delaying a deal with Islamabad by insisting on including India in the deal. Kabul has not yet thought about an independent policy that serves its national interests and moves away from the form of proxy. This action is a difficult task given its dependence on others.

The more Kabul hesitates, the more it takes root in the swamp of its creation. The safety of the route is ensured by the transport authorisation system, which is non-transferable and limited to 200 allowances per Contracting Party. Only vehicles with valid documents, including certificates of authorization, registration and fitness and driving licences, may enter and carry out transit traffic in the territory of the Contracting Parties. For some dates, a permit is issued per vehicle. The permit is valid for vehicles for one trip, including reloading. the authorities at the inspection point for the verification of vehicle documents displayed by the Contracting Parties. For the Central Asian country to join the agreement, Pakistan`s support is essential. Pakistan plays a central role in QTTA because of its geostrategic location, through its ports of Karachi and gwadar, which are to be used for commercial operations, and because of the alternative route it offers due to the Karakoram Highway. For this reason, Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Sardor Umurzakov made an official request for Pakistan`s support for membership. Pakistan responded well to the request, with the Prime Minister`s adviser on trade, Razak Dawood, providing Pakistan`s support to Uzbekistan under the QTTA.

Next Article Covid-19 affects GDP growth in 2020 in the Caucasus and Central Asia » « Douglas (2008) shows the role of international trade in Asia`s economic growth. It emphasizes the role of both physical and soft infrastructure (governance is a critical aspect of soft infrastructure). It has played an important role in strengthening trade, including by reducing transaction costs. The author emphasizes soft infrastructure rather than physical infrastructure to increase trade and profitability, and to distribute income equitably. Similarly, the authors conclude that regional cooperation in trade facilitation leads to economic integration. Finally, the positive cycle between growth, infrastructure investment, trade expansion and regional integration will be erased. (Ahmed Vaqar and Samad Ghulam, Pakistan Planning Commission, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, May 2011) The connection is following in its footsteps towards Afghanistan. Russia has sought a role in seeking chaos in Afghanistan, and a role the Taliban should play in stopping the cascade of the Islamic State group and auxiliary units in the Central Asian arena. In a recent report, the Pakistani military warned the US of chaos in Afghanistan « unless the US and Britain can stop the advance of ISIS and the Taliban. » Russia could simply decide to intervene to avoid a more deadly situation. Afghan militants are now attacking both sides of the border that Kabul has failed to eliminate. QTTA can help position Pakistan as a key player, not only in South Asia, but also in Central Asia.

Pakistan has multi-regional characteristics as it is one of the main trade routes connecting the regions. .