بسته‌ماندن گذرگاه‌های تجاری با پاکستان؛ میوه‌ها فاسد و بازرگانان متضرر شدند

With Pakistan closing its trade routes, Afghanistan’s fresh fruits, especially grapes, are now being sold at very low prices in the markets of Nangarhar.

Traders stated a large portion of their produce has spoiled, forcing them to sell the remaining goods at half price to avoid further losses.

They criticized the ongoing situation and warned that the closure of trade routes could inflict heavy losses, particularly on the country’s farmers.

Mohammad Farooq Ahmadi, a trader, said: “Our main problem is that all our goods have been stopped along the route without informing us, and they are rotting. In the past couple of days, we tried to move our goods to domestic markets and sell them at a very low price to reduce our losses.”

Mashooq Habib, another trader, added: “Our loaded trucks are stuck in Torkham. We call on the government to reopen the roads so our fruits and vegetables, including onions and potatoes, can be exported. Nearly one thousand trucks are stranded in Torkham, and if the route is not reopened, all our produce will rot.”

Meanwhile, the Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce stated trade between the two countries has been halted for nearly a week, with more than six thousand freight trucks stranded on both sides of the hypothetical Durand Line.

Officials of the chamber warn that if Pakistan does not resolve the issue promptly, prices of goods in domestic markets will also rise.

Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Afghanistan–Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said: “Today marks the sixth day that all trade routes remain closed. Over six thousand trucks are stuck in Torkham, Jalalabad, Peshawar, and Kabul. If the routes are not reopened, trade will continue to suffer, market prices will rise, and the balance between supply and demand will be disrupted.”

This comes after recent political and military tensions between Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate and Pakistan, which have not only harmed civilians but also brought trade to a standstill.
According to several Afghan traders, they have not yet been allowed to load their goods and are waiting for these key trade routes to reopen.