Closed Border Crossings with Afghanistan Cost Pakistan’s Trade More Than $1 Billion

Participants at a meeting in Peshawar say the continued closure of trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan has caused more than $1 billion in losses to Pakistan’s trade and harmed the livelihoods of people on both sides of the Durand Line.

According to them, the ongoing closure of the Torkham crossing and other commercial routes has negatively affected not only trade but also agriculture and household incomes. They called for the immediate reopening of these routes and stressed that trade should not be sacrificed to political and security disputes between the two sides.

Participants also urged that security issues be resolved through dialogue. They said expanding regional connectivity and keeping trade routes open are essential to easing pressure on people and sustaining commerce.

The Torkham crossing is considered one of the most important transit and trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and any closure of it usually has a direct impact on the movement of goods, travel by traders and border markets on both sides.