KABUL – Reports from the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) indicate that a truck laden with figs valued at $300,000 was deliberately set ablaze in the Loralai region of Baluchistan, Pakistan. The Deputy Head of ACCI, Khan Jan Alokozay, confirmed the incident and voiced concerns about the potential negative impact on trade relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Alokozay emphasized that Pakistan’s government should prioritize the security of goods in transit through the country. This marked the third occurrence of such an incident, according to Alokozay, who also stated that ACCI had already informed Pakistani authorities about the event.

Social media videos depict a vehicle engulfed in flames, with other trucks stopping nearby in protest against the attack. Abdullah Azzam, an official from the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs in Afghanistan, shared a video of the incident on social media, condemning the act.

In his post, Azzam condemned the actions of local rioters who, according to sources, fired at the vehicle, doused it in fuel, and then ignited it. He stressed that such behavior not only constitutes a grave crime but also has the potential to severely undermine bilateral trade and transit relationships. Azzam’s message to Pakistan was clear: For genuine trade and transit progress, steps must be taken to prevent such destructive incidents.

Culled from Afghanistan Times