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Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD: The Bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has come to a temporary halt due to security concerns at key border customs stations, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said in a statement on Friday. Customs authorities, however, confirmed that import clearances had been completed for most consignments prior to the suspension of cross-border movement.
According to FBR, customs officials successfully processed and cleared 363 import vehicles at Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, and Angoor Adda crossings — all falling under the jurisdiction of the Northern Region of Customs Appraisement. At Torkham, 23 import vehicles remain pending as importers have yet to file goods declarations. These vehicles contain non-perishable goods, including fabric, paint, peanuts, and pulses, which customs expects to clear immediately once the required documentation is submitted.
Regarding exports, 255 vehicles are currently parked inside the Torkham terminal due to the closure, while about 200 export trucks are stranded along the Jamrud–Landi Kotal road. No pending import clearances were reported at Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi, or Angoor Adda border stations.
At the Chaman border crossing, customs clearance operations have remained suspended since October 15, 2025. As a result, five import and twenty-three export vehicles are awaiting processing. Notably, the owners of the export consignments have declined to remove their cargo from the terminal, opting instead to wait until trade activities resume.
In addition to regular imports and exports, around 495 vehicles carrying Afghan transit consignments are also affected by the disruption — with 412 stuck at Chaman and 83 at Torkham. The FBR noted that customs officers and staff remain stationed at all border points and are prepared to resume clearance operations immediately once the security situation stabilizes and border traffic is reopened.
The suspension of cross-border trade has temporarily slowed commercial activity along major trade corridors with Afghanistan, though authorities expect operations to normalize swiftly once security conditions improve.
