Pakistan has announced that transit trade with Afghanistan will remain suspended until the security situation at the border is fully reviewed, the Foreign Office confirmed on Friday.
Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said during his weekly briefing that Afghan transit trade had been halted due to repeated attacks on trading points along the border. “Afghan transit trade is closed. It is not taking place because of the factors you are aware of,” Andrabi stated. He added that the government’s top priority was the safety of its citizens, saying, “The lives of our people are more important than any commodity trade.”
Andrabi also stressed that Afghan territory should not be used to promote or support terrorism inside Pakistan. Responding to reports about the Taliban leadership ordering the construction of a dam on the Kunar River, he noted that Pakistan was examining the situation. “Trans-boundary rivers are governed by international law, and Pakistan will address the issue accordingly,” he said.
Tensions between the two countries escalated after cross-border clashes earlier this month. The fighting, which involved Pakistani airstrikes and ground battles, resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides. The clashes began after Islamabad urged Kabul to take action against militants allegedly operating from sanctuaries in Afghanistan, a claim the Taliban has denied.
According to Khan Jan Alokozay, head of the Pak-Afghan Chamber of Commerce, all trade and transit activities have remained blocked since October 11. While a ceasefire was brokered in talks hosted by Qatar and Turkey, trade has yet to resume.
Officials said the border is unlikely to reopen before a key meeting between Islamabad and Kabul in Istanbul on October 25. “Trade and business activities will depend on the outcome of the Istanbul review meeting,” businessman Imran Khan Kakar said.
Meanwhile, Pakistan briefly opened the Friendship Gate to allow the repatriation of Afghan refugees. Thousands of travelers and traders remain stranded on both sides of the border, waiting for normal movement to resume.
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