Iran Reopens Milak Border, Resumes Fuel and Goods Exports to Afghanistan
The Milak border crossing between Iran and Afghanistan reopened on Sunday following a period of closure, allowing the resumption of fuel and other exports.
Alireza Shahraki, governor of Hirmand District in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, confirmed that negotiations with Taliban officials had resolved issues related to fuel standards. Iranian fuel tankers that had been stranded inside Afghanistan have now been permitted to return.
Shahraki did not specify how many days the border had been closed, but emphasized that exports of goods such as cement, food products, and industrial items also resumed on Sunday morning.
The Milak border is one of the primary routes for the export of fuel and consumer goods from Iran to Afghanistan. Interruptions along this corridor can negatively impact Afghanistan’s import cycle and the supply of essential goods to its population.
In recent months, the Taliban—who control Afghanistan’s border checkpoints—had turned back several Iranian fuel tankers, citing substandard quality. The move strained bilateral trade ties and exacerbated fuel shortages affecting everyday life in Afghanistan.
The Taliban’s slow and opaque response to trade disputes, along with a lack of transparency in decision-making, has contributed to sudden disruptions in cross-border activities—disruptions that are felt most acutely by Afghan businesses and civilians.
The instability and lack of coherence in Taliban governance once again highlight the urgent need for a legitimate, accountable, and recognized governing structure in Afghanistan—one that prioritizes national interests and the well-being of its citizens.
