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India succeeds hurting Pakistan’s trade interest in Afghanistan

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Development of Iranian port Chabahar and connecting road to Afghanistan by India has started showing results causing huge trade deficit for Pakistan. A senior Pakistani official has acknowledged that India has succeeded to penetrate in Kabul declining their market share by more than 50 per cent falling to $ 1.2 billion from $ 2.7 billion during last two years.

According to Dawn, Zubain Motiwala, Chairman Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry who recently visited Kabul said on Friday that the penetration of India and China into Afghan market has limited Pakistan’s option to retain its market share. He said that India subsidises heavily on its exports. Pakistan has been losing even the traditional markets of flour, men and women’s clothes and red meat.

According to Motiwala, India has been providing goods at subsidised rates to capture the market and are providing air tickets with a 75pc rebate. Afghans find it easy to travel to India with cheap tickets and free multiple visas without police checks.

According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, exports to Afghanistan dropped to $1.271bn in FY17 from $1.437bn in FY16. Exports in the first quarter of 2017-18 stood at $319 million. Traditionally Kabul was natural market for Pakistani exports which is now changing because of cheaper products from China and India.

Rising India’s medical tourism has also affected Pakistan. Earlier thousands of Afghans used to visit Peshawar for medical treatment but now they prefer going to India due to cheaper treatments. “Medical tourism of Peshawar, which was mainly due to Afghans, is now at zero level; hospitals in Hayatabad are empty,” Motiwala added.

Large numbers of Peshawar traders have also lost their business. Out of 200 flour mills, about 100 have been closed down due to a drastic fall in the export of flour to Afghanistan.

Movement of containers’ traffic from Karachi port to Kabul have also decreased from average 70,000 to just 7000 which reflects the change of trading route for imported goods to Afghanistan.

Dawn report further says that Pakistan was the biggest supplier of shalwar qameez suits to Kabul which is now shifted to the supplies from India and China. This was a traditional Pakistani item in Afghan market.

India succeeds hurting Pakistan’s trade interest in Afghanistan

Earlier on February 9, Eurasian Times had reported that over 80% of Afghanistan’s cargo traffic has shifted from Karachi seaport to Bandar Abbas and Chabahar ports in Iran. The move comes as a result to Pakistan’s new trade tariffs and inauguration of Chabahar port, which is expected to greatly impact the Pakistan’s role in trade transit for Afghanistan.

In October last year, India shipped its first consignment of wheat to Afghanistan by sea through Chabahar port, launching a trade route bypassing Pakistan. The shipment was sent from Kandla seaport. The shipment was taken by trucks to Afghanistan from the Iranian port.

In May 2016, India, Iran, and Afghanistan had signed a historic three-nation deal to develop the strategic Chabahar port and build a transport and trade corridor through Afghanistan that could halve the time and cost of doing business with Europe.

Since 2001 US-led military operation to remove Taliban government in Afghanistan, militant groups used to attack coalition cargo travelling from Karachi to Kabul in Baluchistan province for black mailing US administration and exerting pressure on Pakistan government.

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PM Modi arrives in France for G7 Summit 2026, Trump meeting scheduled on Wednesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in France for the G7 Summit 2026. A bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump is expected during the summit as leaders discuss major global economic and security challenges.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Évian, France, on Tuesday to participate in the G7 Summit 2026, marking the final leg of his two-nation Europe visit. World leaders have gathered in the French town for discussions on major global challenges, including economic growth, security, technology and international cooperation.

The summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions, with developments related to Iran, Ukraine and global economic stability expected to feature prominently in discussions among leaders.

A bilateral meeting between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump is expected on Wednesday on the sidelines of the summit. According to reports, the two leaders are likely to discuss trade, investment, energy cooperation, supply chains, artificial intelligence and broader strategic issues.

Ahead of the summit, PM Modi had said India would represent not only its own interests but also the aspirations of the Global South. India has consistently used international forums to raise issues affecting developing nations, including sustainable development, economic resilience and equitable global growth.

French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting the three-day summit in Évian, where leaders from G7 nations and invited partner countries are taking part in a series of formal sessions and bilateral engagements. India is among the invited outreach partners attending the gathering.

The expected Modi-Trump meeting is attracting significant attention as it would be their first face-to-face interaction since recent discussions over trade and strategic cooperation. Officials have indicated that economic ties, visa-related matters and regional security issues could feature in the talks.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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