Thousands of Afghan Cargo Containers Stranded at Pakistan Border
Thousands of containers transporting Afghan goods have been stranded at the Pakistan border, raising serious concerns among Afghan traders, according to a recent meeting between Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban administration’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, and members of Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment.
The Chamber reported that approximately 8,000 containers carrying Afghan transit goods are currently stuck at Pakistani ports. At the same time, 4,000 containers—either bearing Afghan export goods or empty—have not been allowed to cross from the Afghan side into Pakistan. Traders warned that the prolonged delay is causing significant economic losses for Afghan businesses.
During the meeting, traders urged Taliban officials to take diplomatic steps to resolve the issue with Pakistani authorities. They also stressed the need to reduce Afghanistan’s reliance on a single trade route, calling for practical efforts to develop alternative transit corridors.
In addition, Chamber members advocated for non-cash subsidies from the Taliban administration to support domestic production and exports. They argued that such support could help mitigate some of the ongoing challenges faced by the country’s traders.
In response, Minister Azizi pledged to take necessary measures to address the current issues and strengthen trade connections. He also highlighted the importance of economic ties with neighboring countries but did not detail specific actions to resolve the crisis.
