مسدود شدن گذرگاه‌های پاکستان با افغانستان به‌دلیل تنش‌های اخیر میان دو کشور

Political and military tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have not only overshadowed bilateral relations but have also severely harmed trade between the two nations.

Sources told TOLOnews that since last night, Pakistan has closed several shared crossings, including Torkham, Spin Boldak, Ghulam Khan, Dand-e-Patan, and Shahr Naw.

According to these sources, thousands of travelers, hundreds of cargo trucks, and patients are now stranded on both sides of the Torkham crossing and are facing serious difficulties.

Watanyar Hamidi, a trader, said: “This is a major challenge that has disrupted Afghanistan’s export process, especially since we are currently in the export season for apples, grapes, and pomegranates. After the closure of Torkham, trucks have been halted en route, and I haven’t loaded my shipment today.”

Meanwhile, several Afghan traders, expressing deep concern over the situation, stated that trade relations with Pakistan have suffered in recent years due to political tensions. They emphasized the urgent need for more serious efforts with the Pakistani side to reopen export routes.

Abdul Ghafour Nasir, another trader, said: “Since yesterday, all Pakistan borders have been closed. In my opinion, this issue not only harms Afghanistan but also damages Pakistan’s interests, as its own export season is also beginning. Therefore, trade must be kept separate from politics.”

Pakistan remains one of the closest and most important export markets for Afghan goods. Annually, trade worth millions of dollars occurs between the two countries.

However, in recent years, political and military tensions have cast a shadow over bilateral trade, reducing its volume from $7 billion to just over $2 billion, a decline that has caused significant losses for traders on both sides.