Afghanistan-India Trade Halts via Pakistan Amid Taliban Tensions
According to leading Indian media reports, escalating tensions between the Taliban administration and Pakistan have led to the complete suspension of the Atari–Wagah transit route, a key corridor for trade between Afghanistan and India. The closure has brought commercial exchanges between the two countries to a standstill.
The Times of India reports that new restrictions on the entry and exit of trucks, and the replacement of Afghan drivers with Pakistani ones, have disrupted the free movement of goods. As a result, economic ties between Afghanistan and India—which have traditionally relied on routes through Pakistan—have become increasingly unstable.
Khwaja Abdul Rahim Siddiqi, a fruit and dried goods trader from Afghanistan, warned that the continuation of these conditions not only harms exports but has also deeply discouraged domestic investors. He stressed that conflict and sealed trade routes are destroying hopes for economic improvement.
The report also suggests that the Pakistani government may be leveraging its control over key trade routes to gain intelligence or strategic advantages in regional commerce. Until tensions ease and an agreement is reached between the Taliban and Pakistan, the reopening of the route appears unlikely.
