Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have entered their thirteenth day, keeping all major border crossings closed and disrupting cross-border trade. Key routes in Chaman, Khyber, South and North Waziristan, and Kurram district remain sealed, leaving hundreds of cargo trucks stranded on both sides.
According to customs officials, at Chaman’s Bab-e-Dosti gate, only vehicles carrying Afghan nationals are being permitted to cross into Afghanistan through Gate No. 4. Since the clashes began, around 10,000 Afghan citizens have been sent back, while nearly 1,200 empty containers have re-entered Pakistan.
Officials say that debris from the affected trade routes and areas hit by the recent border clashes has yet to be cleared, delaying any possibility of reopening. A proposal has been floated to gradually restore the movement of transit containers once the Bab-e-Dosti gate is reopened for trade.
Hundreds of freight trucks and containers remain parked along the Chaman-to-Karachi route, loaded with perishable goods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, and juices, much of which has already spoiled due to the prolonged closure. Transporters are facing heavy financial losses as the blockade continues without any resolution in sight.
Similarly, other border crossings including Torkham in Khyber, Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, Ghulam Khan in North Waziristan, and Kharlachi in Kurram remain shut, resulting in long queues of cargo vehicles. Traders have urged both governments to restore trade operations immediately to prevent further economic damage and loss of livelihoods in the border regions.
