Border Closure Crisis Deepens As Pakistani Exports To Afghanistan Remain Disrupted | World News

Dozens of Pakistani truck drivers carrying goods to Afghanistan have been stranded at major border crossings for weeks, victims of escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan that have disrupted regional trade.

The closure of vital trade routes has caused hundreds of vehicles to park at crossing points where motorists, deprived of food, money and shelter, struggle to survive in harsh conditions, The Express Tribune reported.

Exporters and logistics firms said the suspension of cross-border operations has virtually frozen the movement of Pakistan’s kinnow exports and other shipments bound for Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries, The Express Tribune reported.

The border closures, in place since October 11, followed violent clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces; It was the most serious since the Taliban returned to power in 2021 after Islamabad accused Kabul of failing to rein in militants operating on its territory.

Junaid Makda, President of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, stated that kinnow exporters, transporters and logistics companies were most affected due to the decay of perishable goods at the border points.

He said the trade halt comes at a critical time when kinnow exports usually reach a season high, creating financial strain in the supply chain from farmers to transporters.
Makda also criticized the State Bank of Pakistan for turning down its proposal to exempt kinnow exports via Iran to Iran and Central Asian markets from complex financial requirements, The Express Tribune reported.

Pakistan exported kinnow worth $110 million last year. However, due to the ongoing crisis, this year’s earnings are expected to drop to $100 million. Thousands of containers carrying bilateral and regional cargo remain stranded across Pakistan, with traders and clearing agents facing daily demurrage costs of US$150-200 per container. According to The Express Tribune, Makda warned that small businesses and exporters were on the verge of collapse and called on authorities to immediately abandon these penalties.