The prolonged closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, now stretching beyond four months since October 2025, continues to devastate key export sectors. Exporters report massive losses from perishable goods unable to reach markets.
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Trade Losses Mount to BillionsWaheed Ahmed, Patron-in-Chief of the All Pakistan Fruit & Vegetable Exporters Importers & Merchants Association, estimates losses nearing $2 billion for goods originally routed through Afghanistan to Central Asian Republics.
Pakistan’s bumper harvests of potatoes and kinnow face spoilage amid blocked transit routes.Freight costs have skyrocketed from around $3,000 to $8,000 per shipment via alternative Iran paths, with delivery times doubling to 15-20 days. This delay proves fatal for fresh produce, leading to quality degradation and rejected consignments.
Call for Decoupling Security and CommerceAhmed urges separating national security from commercial activities. He points to the China-Taiwan model, where deep economic ties persist despite political tensions.
Maintaining open trade channels, he argues, protects livelihoods on both sides without undermining anti-terrorism measures. Business groups warn that prolonged disruption risks permanent market loss in Central Asia.
Recent minor de-escalation steps, including Saudi-mediated releases of captured soldiers, offer hope but have yet to reopen crossings. Traders demand urgent diplomatic progress to salvage the season.