Pakistan has suspended all Afghan Transit Trade operations through its Karachi ports amid escalating border clashes with Afghanistan, halting cargo movement and cancelling all transit gate passes until further notice.
Pakistan Afghan Transit Trade suspension reflects a sharp escalation in trade and security tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The decision was made by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) during a high-level meeting held at the Customs House Karachi, chaired by the Director General of Afghan Transit Trade.
Junaid Makda, President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce, stated that 291 containers of Afghan transit cargo are stuck at Karachi Port and Port Qasim.
Makda stated that traders on both sides are now forced to sell food items at half price due to the suspension of the Afghan Transit Trade, which is resulting in daily losses of around one billion rupees. Typically, around 1,000 containers move in both directions each day under this trade agreement. He also noted that all warehouses at the Torkham border are currently full.
The halted shipments include a wide range of goods such as electronics, electrical equipment, machinery, home appliances, textiles, confectionery, chocolates, and other perishable items. As a result, traders have already suffered losses worth billions of rupees over the past four days.
Following the session, a Customs General Order (CGO) was issued, immediately suspending operations across all terminals handling Afghan-bound shipments.
At Port Qasim and Karachi Port, cargo movement has completely stopped as customs authorities ordered the offloading of Afghanistan-bound containers.
Officials confirmed that storage yards in Quetta and Peshawar are already filled to capacity, leaving no space for additional containers awaiting clearance or dispatch.
At the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT), hundreds of trucks carrying Transit Permit (TP) cargo are stranded. Long queues now extend along major routes leading toward Quetta and Peshawar, with many containers left mid-transit as the closure remains in place.
According to Tolo News report, several Afghan traders urged the Afghan government to strengthen alternative trade routes through Iran, Central Asia, and China to reduce economic dependency on Pakistan.
The trade halt follows renewed military tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. The clashes began last week after Taliban fighters attacked Pakistani forces near the frontier. In response, Pakistan carried out precision airstrikes on Taliban camps and posts in Kandahar and Kabul, reportedly killing more than 200 militants.
On October 15, both sides agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire after mediation by the Afghan Taliban regime.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office said efforts are underway to “find a positive solution through constructive dialogue,” signaling cautious optimism despite ongoing hostilities.
