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Credibility Assessment
Article relies an anonymous trader quotes providing some specific details like trade volumes and the 37th day of closures. Human verification confirms the story.
The closure of major border crossings between Afghanistan and Pakistan reached its 37th day on Sunday. This has disrupted trade, left thousands of truckers and merchants stranded, and increased economic pressure on both sides of the border.
In border areas such as Spin Boldak and Torkham, shopkeepers and traders report that their businesses are operating at reduced capacity. One merchant stated, “We used to operate at 100 percent. Now we’re barely at 20 percent.” Freight activity has also declined sharply, with only 10 to 15 shipping containers arriving per week, compared to higher volumes prior to the closure.
The closures stem from rising tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, along with retaliatory economic measures by the Taliban. Last week, Taliban deputy chief minister Abdul Ghani Baradar announced that Afghanistan would phase out pharmaceutical imports from Pakistan due to concerns about low-quality medicines. This decision is seen as an initial step to decrease Afghanistan's trade reliance on Pakistan.
Afghanistan and Pakistan maintain an important but unstable trade relationship. In 2024, bilateral trade totaled about $1.5 billion, down from more than $2.3 billion in earlier years. Monthly trade previously averaged $100 million to $200 million in goods entering Afghanistan from Pakistan, including food, pharmaceuticals, cement, textiles, and construction materials. In recent months, transit issues, political disputes, and the current border closures have stopped nearly all formal trade.
Afghan traders indicate that thousands of containers remain stuck at the borders, some containing perishable goods and essential supplies. One trader said, “This route is completely blocked. When it was open, all goods moved through this crossing. Now everything is stuck and our livelihoods are in ruins.”
Pakistan has pointed to security issues, including recent cross-border attacks, to explain its stricter policies toward Afghanistan. In turn, Taliban authorities have advised Afghan businesses to explore alternative trade routes via Iran, Central Asia, and China.
As the closures extend into a second month, economic challenges are growing on both sides. Traders report risks of higher inflation, reduced supplies, and increased uncertainty for those reliant on cross-border trade.
