- FO spokesperson says lives of citizens ‘more important than any commodity trade’
- Says till evaluation of security situation, this transit trade will remain closed
- Over 5,000 Pakistanis stranded in Spin Boldak as border stays shut
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday announced that the transit trade with Afghanistan will remain suspended indefinitely until a comprehensive assessment of the prevailing border security situation is completed, underscoring that “the lives of citizens are more important than any commodity trade.”
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi, during his maiden weekly press briefing, confirmed that the suspension was a direct consequence of escalating cross-border violence and repeated attacks targeting Pakistani trading points from the Afghan side.
“Afghan transit trade is closed—it is not taking place because of the factors you are aware of,” Andrabi said. “There was considerable discussion on this question during last week’s briefing as well. Till the evaluation of the security situation, this transit trade will remain closed.”
He said Pakistan had suffered repeated attacks on its border trading points from the Afghan side, resulting in the loss of Pakistani lives. “The lives of our citizens are more important than any commodity trade,” the spokesperson stressed, urging Kabul to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism against Pakistan.
Responding to a question regarding reports that the Taliban supreme leader had ordered the construction of a dam on the Kunar River, Andrabi said Islamabad was examining the details. “Generally, transboundary rivers are governed by international law. In such matters, Pakistan is both an upper and a lower riparian—we will follow this matter accordingly,” he explained.
The Chitral River originates in Pakistan and becomes the Kunar River after entering Afghanistan, joining the Kabul River near Jalalabad before re-entering Pakistan.
Border crossings between the two countries have remained closed since October 11, following intense ground clashes and Pakistani airstrikes along the 2,600-kilometre frontier — the deadliest confrontation since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Kabul. The fighting left dozens dead on both sides, halting all cross-border trade and movement.
According to Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce in Kabul, all trade and transit activities have been completely blocked since the clashes erupted.
The confrontation was triggered after Islamabad pressed Kabul to rein in militants allegedly operating from sanctuaries inside Afghanistan and launching attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban denied the accusations.
A Qatar- and Turkey-brokered ceasefire, reached last weekend, is currently holding, but border trade remains frozen. The next round of bilateral talks is scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul, where both sides will decide future steps.
A senior Pakistani official told reporters that the border is unlikely to reopen before the Istanbul meeting. “Trade and business activities between Pakistan and Afghanistan will be restored depending on the outcome of the review talks,” said Imran Khan Kakar, a leading businessman.
Authorities briefly opened the Friendship Gate to allow the repatriation of Afghan refugees arriving in Chaman from across Balochistan and Karachi. However, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) immigration operations remain suspended, leaving thousands stranded.
“Over 5,000 Pakistanis are stuck in Spin Boldak, as they cross daily for small businesses,” an FIA official confirmed.
Suspension affects cargo movement at several key border crossings
Earlier, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Friday said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been temporarily suspended due to security concerns. The suspension has affected cargo movement at several key border crossings, including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Chaman.
In a statement, the FBR said that before the suspension, customs authorities had cleared 363 imported vehicles at the four major border stations—Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda. However, 23 imported vehicles loaded with non-perishable items such as cloth, paint, peanuts, and pulses are still awaiting clearance at Torkham. The delay, according to the FBR, is due to the importers not yet submitting their goods declarations.
Officials assured that clearance will be completed immediately once the required documentation is provided. “Customs personnel are present at all border points, and the clearance process will resume as soon as the situation returns to normal,” the statement said.
On the export side, the border closure has caused a significant backlog. Around 255 vehicles carrying export goods are currently parked inside the Torkham terminal, while nearly 200 vehicles are stranded along the Jamrud–Landi Kotal Road. No import vehicles, however, are awaiting clearance at Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, or Angoor Adda border stations.
Trade disruptions have also hit the Chaman border, where customs clearance operations have been suspended since October 15, 2025. The FBR reported that five import vehicles and 23 export vehicles are awaiting processing there, with owners opting not to take back their consignments. “These traders are waiting for the border to reopen and trade activities to resume,” the statement added.
In total, about 495 vehicles of transit consignments are now waiting to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at Torkham and Chaman.
