Following the closure of the Torkham crossing due to political and security tensions by Pakistan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Investment told Ava that Afghanistan has alternative routes for imports and exports with Central Asian countries, the Persian Gulf region and Arab countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and India. Therefore, the closure of this crossing, especially in the current situation when it is the season for exporting Pakistani fruits to Afghanistan, will cause the greatest loss to the country itself.
Publish dateWednesday 26 February 2025 - 12:49
Story Code : 308686
Spokespersons for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce in an interview with AVA:
The closure of the Torkham border in the current season will cause the greatest loss to Pakistan
Latest details of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Kabul: After the closure of the Torkham crossing and the failure of the meeting between the two sides, yesterday (Tuesday, Feb 25), a high-ranking delegation of the Islamic Emirate went to the Torkham border to resolve the problem with Pakistan and reopen this important transit route between the two countries. However, the outcome of these negotiations has not been determined yet and the border remains closed for the fifth consecutive day.
Details of Afghanistan-Pakistan trade this year
Abdul Salam Javad Akhundzada, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate, referred to the amount of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan this year in an interview with AVA and said: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has had a total of two billion four hundred and sixty-one million dollars in trade with Pakistan in 2024. Of this, $510 million was exports and $1 billion 644 million was imports, which accounts for 33 percent of exports and 67 percent of imports, respectively."
He also added that Afghanistan's major exports to Pakistan include agricultural products such as onions, cotton, pomegranates, and coal, while imports from Pakistan include industrial and consumer products such as rice, medicine, cement, sugar, linen products, and fruits such as bananas.
Alternative plans have reduced Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan
Akhundzada further emphasized that in the past, with the closure of the Torkham border, the prices of many goods in Afghan markets increased. But currently, due to the new policies of the Islamic Emirate that have expanded trade interactions with Central Asian countries, exports and imports are being carried out through alternative routes, which has reduced Afghanistan's need for Pakistan.
He clarified: "With the closure of the Torkham border, Pakistan and its people will bear the most losses. Therefore, we demand that the Pakistani side resolve this problem as soon as possible so that trade and transit between the two countries can return to normal."
The closure of the Torkham border is causing bilateral losses
Meanwhile, Jan Agha Navid, spokesman for the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, pointed out in an interview with Ava the economic losses caused by the closure of the Torkham border and said: "Although Afghanistan has alternative routes for imports and exports, the closure of this border is causing losses to traders from both countries."
According to Navid, from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment's perspective, the closure of border crossings, for whatever reason, will be to the detriment of traders, investors and people on both sides. He added: "The desire of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment in such circumstances is that both sides reopen the Torkham border as soon as possible through constructive negotiations and taking into account national interests."
Navid further stated that Afghanistan is not currently dependent on a single route in terms of trade and has several options, including Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, all of whose borders are open to Afghanistan, and exchanges and transit of goods are carried out easily through these routes.
He also noted that commercial items that do not cost much and are economical, including dried fruits, are exported through the air corridor to India, Persian Gulf countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and also China.
Thousands of trucks have been stopped on both sides of the Torkham border; who is the victim?
Navid announced that thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods are currently stopped on both sides of the Torkham border, and this situation has caused huge losses to traders from both countries. He emphasized that reopening this border crossing as soon as possible would be a wise move.
According to Navid, the closure of the Torkham border has affected not only Afghan traders but also Pakistani traders. Over the past few days, the Pakistani private sector and traders have raised several complaints, especially during this season when exports of fruits such as malta, quinoa and vegetables from Pakistan to Afghanistan increase.
The spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Investment also stated that although the season for exporting Afghan fruits and vegetables to Pakistan is not currently underway, goods such as minerals, handicrafts and dried fruits that were previously transited to Pakistan are now stopped at the Torkham border.
He expressed hope that the authorities of the two countries will separate political issues from economic issues and reopen the Torkham border as soon as possible. Navid emphasized that if the border remains closed, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the country’s private sector will seek alternative routes so that the Afghan people have full access to raw materials and essentials.
He added that political tensions had previously reduced trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the closure of the borders would definitely further reduce trade between the two countries.
Meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials to reopen Torkham border
A local official of the Islamic Emirate in Nangarhar announced on Monday, February 26, that a meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials to reopen the Torkham border had ended without any results.
Abdul Jabbar Hekmat, the Islamic Emirate commissioner in Torkham, stated that Pakistani officials have asked Afghanistan to refrain from building facilities along the Durand Line and also not to prevent Pakistan from building facilities. According to him, the Islamic Emirate delegation headed by Azizullah Mustafa, deputy governor of Nangarhar, has rejected this request. This is while Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the issue.
On the other hand, the press office of the Nangarhar provincial governor announced on Tuesday, March 27, that a high-ranking delegation from the Islamic Emirate will travel to the region to review the situation at the Torkham border and negotiate with Pakistani officials to resolve the issue.
It is worth noting that the Torkham crossing has remained closed for the fifth consecutive day as of today, Wednesday, March 27, 1403, and thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods have been stopped on both sides of the border.
While negotiations to reopen the Torkham crossing continue, the economic impact of this closure on both countries is significant. Afghanistan is less dependent on this border than before due to its new trade policies, while Pakistan will suffer more losses during its fruit export season. Therefore, the parties must reach an agreement to resolve this issue as soon as possible to prevent further losses.
Details of Afghanistan-Pakistan trade this year
Abdul Salam Javad Akhundzada, spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate, referred to the amount of trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan this year in an interview with AVA and said: "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has had a total of two billion four hundred and sixty-one million dollars in trade with Pakistan in 2024. Of this, $510 million was exports and $1 billion 644 million was imports, which accounts for 33 percent of exports and 67 percent of imports, respectively."
He also added that Afghanistan's major exports to Pakistan include agricultural products such as onions, cotton, pomegranates, and coal, while imports from Pakistan include industrial and consumer products such as rice, medicine, cement, sugar, linen products, and fruits such as bananas.
Alternative plans have reduced Afghanistan's dependence on Pakistan
Akhundzada further emphasized that in the past, with the closure of the Torkham border, the prices of many goods in Afghan markets increased. But currently, due to the new policies of the Islamic Emirate that have expanded trade interactions with Central Asian countries, exports and imports are being carried out through alternative routes, which has reduced Afghanistan's need for Pakistan.
He clarified: "With the closure of the Torkham border, Pakistan and its people will bear the most losses. Therefore, we demand that the Pakistani side resolve this problem as soon as possible so that trade and transit between the two countries can return to normal."
The closure of the Torkham border is causing bilateral losses
Meanwhile, Jan Agha Navid, spokesman for the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, pointed out in an interview with Ava the economic losses caused by the closure of the Torkham border and said: "Although Afghanistan has alternative routes for imports and exports, the closure of this border is causing losses to traders from both countries."
According to Navid, from the Chamber of Commerce and Investment's perspective, the closure of border crossings, for whatever reason, will be to the detriment of traders, investors and people on both sides. He added: "The desire of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment in such circumstances is that both sides reopen the Torkham border as soon as possible through constructive negotiations and taking into account national interests."
Navid further stated that Afghanistan is not currently dependent on a single route in terms of trade and has several options, including Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, all of whose borders are open to Afghanistan, and exchanges and transit of goods are carried out easily through these routes.
He also noted that commercial items that do not cost much and are economical, including dried fruits, are exported through the air corridor to India, Persian Gulf countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and also China.
Thousands of trucks have been stopped on both sides of the Torkham border; who is the victim?
Navid announced that thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods are currently stopped on both sides of the Torkham border, and this situation has caused huge losses to traders from both countries. He emphasized that reopening this border crossing as soon as possible would be a wise move.
According to Navid, the closure of the Torkham border has affected not only Afghan traders but also Pakistani traders. Over the past few days, the Pakistani private sector and traders have raised several complaints, especially during this season when exports of fruits such as malta, quinoa and vegetables from Pakistan to Afghanistan increase.
The spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce and Investment also stated that although the season for exporting Afghan fruits and vegetables to Pakistan is not currently underway, goods such as minerals, handicrafts and dried fruits that were previously transited to Pakistan are now stopped at the Torkham border.
He expressed hope that the authorities of the two countries will separate political issues from economic issues and reopen the Torkham border as soon as possible. Navid emphasized that if the border remains closed, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment and the country’s private sector will seek alternative routes so that the Afghan people have full access to raw materials and essentials.
He added that political tensions had previously reduced trade between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the closure of the borders would definitely further reduce trade between the two countries.
Meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials to reopen Torkham border
A local official of the Islamic Emirate in Nangarhar announced on Monday, February 26, that a meeting between Afghan and Pakistani officials to reopen the Torkham border had ended without any results.
Abdul Jabbar Hekmat, the Islamic Emirate commissioner in Torkham, stated that Pakistani officials have asked Afghanistan to refrain from building facilities along the Durand Line and also not to prevent Pakistan from building facilities. According to him, the Islamic Emirate delegation headed by Azizullah Mustafa, deputy governor of Nangarhar, has rejected this request. This is while Pakistani officials have not yet commented on the issue.
On the other hand, the press office of the Nangarhar provincial governor announced on Tuesday, March 27, that a high-ranking delegation from the Islamic Emirate will travel to the region to review the situation at the Torkham border and negotiate with Pakistani officials to resolve the issue.
It is worth noting that the Torkham crossing has remained closed for the fifth consecutive day as of today, Wednesday, March 27, 1403, and thousands of trucks carrying commercial goods have been stopped on both sides of the border.
While negotiations to reopen the Torkham crossing continue, the economic impact of this closure on both countries is significant. Afghanistan is less dependent on this border than before due to its new trade policies, while Pakistan will suffer more losses during its fruit export season. Therefore, the parties must reach an agreement to resolve this issue as soon as possible to prevent further losses.
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