Thousands of Afghan Traders’ Containers Held at Karachi Port

The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce has reported that over 11,000 containers belonging to Afghan traders remain stuck at Pakistan’s Karachi port, with authorities not allowing the shipments to be released. According to the Chamber, the large-scale blockage has caused significant concern among traders involved in bilateral and transit trade and has inflicted substantial financial losses. Traders have warned that if the restrictions continue, they could further undermine Afghanistan’s trade routes and lead to considerable economic damage.

Officials from the Chamber have urged Pakistani authorities to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and facilitate the transit process to prevent worsening economic problems for Afghan traders. Meanwhile, the ongoing disruptions have also triggered criticism of the Taliban government. Many businesspeople and economic groups believe that the Taliban administration has failed to effectively support and manage the interests of Afghanistan’s trading community on a regional level, and view the government’s poor performance as a key factor contributing to the current crisis.