INTERNATIONAL — June 15, 2026
Pakistan Parliamentarian Warns Border Closure with Afghanistan Has Damaged Peshawar's Industry and Trade
He urged the government to separate political disputes from economic needs and to pursue diplomatic or jirga-based solutions that would allow trade to resume.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Omid Radio — corroborated by ToloNews and Ariana News — 2 min read
Asad Qaiser, a member of Pakistan's National Assembly, told parliament that the continued closure of routes linked to Afghanistan has severely harmed Peshawar's industry and commerce.
Qaiser stated that the restrictions have cut off Peshawar's access to markets in Afghanistan and Central Asia, undermining a key economic advantage for the region.
He urged the government to separate political disputes from economic matters and to allow cross-border trade to resume so that residents can maintain their livelihoods.
The parliamentarian advocated resolving differences between the two sides through diplomatic channels or jirgas rather than measures that disrupt trade flows.
Qaiser presented the border restrictions as a crisis for local businesses and called for practical steps to restore normal commercial activity.
Read the original reporting at Omid Radio →
Reliability assessment
Three outlets report the on-record statement by named Pakistani National Assembly member Asad Qaiser in parliament; this is a verifiable public statement regardless of the topic.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Ariana News: "brought ... to its knees", "plunged ... into a serious crisis", "industry in Peshawar is being destroyed", "this injustice", "take political revenge from trade" — these phrases emotionally frame the border closure as catastrophic and unfair, mixing reporting with advocacy for reopening trade.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Where reports agree
- Asad Qaiser made statements in Pakistan's parliament criticizing border closures with Afghanistan for damaging Peshawar's industry and trade.
- He emphasized Peshawar's reliance on Afghan and Central Asian markets.
- He urged separating politics from trade and using diplomacy or jirgas to resolve issues.
Filed by 3 outlets
Omid Radio
Originating
Reported straight
Reported straight
ToloNews
Framed
Framed
Ariana News
Framed
Framed
Filed under
International — Asad Qaiser, Pakistan-Afghanistan border, Peshawar economy, trade restrictions, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations
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