KABUL - The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) Tuesday said that it will end trade relations with Pakistan following a long-running dispute over containers stalled in Karachi port.

ACCI officials said despite assurances made by Pakistani officials to release the 3000 containers belonging to Afghan traders, the issue is still not resolved.

"Despite so much effort, the government has now failed to resolve our problems with Pakistan and we are forced to end our relations with Pakistan," ACCI deputy Khan Jan Alokozay said.

Alokozay said traders were losing as much as US$600,000 a day over the matter and will encourage Afghan traders to discontinue doing business via Karachi.

ACCI officials have asked the Afghan government to prevent Pakistani-loaded vehicles from entering Afghanistan, even those whose destination is a different country.

Pakistan Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf earlier this month ordered the Afghan containers be released in one week following his meeting with the ACCI and the Afghan-Pak Joint Chamber of Commerce, but the ACCI said there has been no progress. (Tolo News)