(a) whether the Indian Government has made any request to the Government of Pakistan to allow transit through its territory to Afghanistan for the execution of small
social projects being undertaken with the help of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government of Pakistan has acceded to the request made by India;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor ?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a-e) The issue of allowing transit facility to Indian goods and equipments through Pakistani
territory to facilitate implementation of development projects in Afghanistan has been regularly
taken up with Government of Pakistan. Pakistan permits transit to Afghanistan through Karachi
port but not through the land route. In 2006 as an exception, Pakistan permitted the transit
of mini-buses through its territory via Wagah border. Pakistan cites extraneous political reasons
for not giving land transit facility to India.