Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Crossings Remain Closed for 13th Day

Border Crossings Remain Closed for 13th Day  Photo File (Urdu VOA)

Cross-border trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains at a standstill for the 13th consecutive day as tensions between the two countries persist. Key border points, including Chaman, Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda, and Kharlachi, remain closed, leaving hundreds of cargo trucks stranded on both sides.

According to customs officials, at Chaman’s Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate), only vehicles carrying Afghan nationals returning home are being allowed to cross into Afghanistan through Gate 4. Since the clashes began, around 10,000 Afghan citizens have been repatriated, while 1,200 empty containers have re-entered Pakistan.

Authorities said that trade routes damaged during recent skirmishes have not yet been cleared of debris, delaying any plans for reopening. Officials have suggested that once the border reopens, transit containers will be restored gradually in phases.

The closure has caused significant economic disruption, with perishable goods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, and juices spoiling inside stranded trucks along routes from Chaman to Karachi. Long lines of cargo vehicles are also reported at Torkham in Khyber, Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan, and Kharlachi in Kurram district, where all crossings remain sealed.

Authorities have yet to announce a timeline for reopening the borders, as efforts continue to ease bilateral tensions and resume normal trade operations between Pakistan and Afghanistan.