Closure of Afghanistan-Pakistan border costs Afghan traders millions of dollars

By Bilal Guler

KABUL, Afghanistan (AA) - The border closure between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to bilateral tensions is inflicting losses of millions of dollars on Afghan traders.

The two South Asian neighbors share a 2,640-kilometer (1,640-mile) land border with 18 crossing points.

The Torkham border in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province and the Spin Boldak border in Kandahar province stand out as the busiest border crossings, accommodating both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

At the border, occasional armed conflicts leading to fatalities and visa-related issues arise between Afghan and Pakistani forces. During these heightened periods of tension, border crossings can remain closed.

During these times, trucks and lorries belonging to Afghan traders wait for days on both sides of the border for the crossings to reopen.

The border is usually closed by the decision of the Pakistani government, prompting Afghan traders to protest the situation both on social media and by gathering at the border.

The Torkham Border Crossing, closed by Pakistan on Jan. 12 due to visa issues regarding vehicle crossings, reopened for vehicle traffic on Tuesday after 11 days.

- ‘Political problems should not affect economy’

Mirwais Hotak, the chair of Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce, told Anadolu that political problems should not impact the economy.

Hotak, highlighting Afghanistan's strategic location connecting Central Asia to South Asia, mentioned that all types of commercial goods enter the country or are sent to other countries via Afghanistan.

He explained that during periods of border closures, thousands of trucks and lorries are stranded, resulting in significant economic losses.

Hotak mentioned major issues during the waiting period, including increased transportation costs, time loss, penalties for late delivery to buyers, and spoilage of perishable items like fruits and vegetables.

"We want these issues to be resolved. We have significant trade relations with Pakistan, especially through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings. We also maintain good trade relations with our other neighbors," he said.

"Technical problems may arise at times (at other border crossings), but they are quickly resolved, and our traders do not suffer. Only Pakistan is causing long-standing issues. We want a solution to be found for this problem. Our losses amount to millions of dollars. It's not just Afghan traders; Pakistani traders are also incurring losses," he added.

Hotak emphasized that they are in constant communication with the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, the Pakistan Embassy in Kabul, the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad, and officials from the interim government of Afghanistan to prevent issues related to border crossings.

He stressed the importance of political problems not affecting the economic cycle.

Hotak stated: "When we look at the problems, most of them are political. The closure of the border harms the Afghan economy and traders in the short term, but at the same time, it inflicts significant losses on the other side (Pakistani traders) in both the short and long term."

- Border crossings vital for Afghan economy

With a population exceeding 40 million, Afghanistan meets a significant portion of its needs through neighboring countries like Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

As Afghanistan lacks access to the sea, border crossings are of vital importance for the country.

According to the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, trade between the two countries amounted to $2.5 billion in 2010 but dropped to $1.6 billion before settling at slightly over $1.8 billion in 2022-23.

Tensions between the two neighbors rose after the Taliban removed border fencing at some points along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, resulting in an increase in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.