The Torkham border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has been sealed for 38 days, crippling trade. Thousands of trucks have been stranded; the spoilage costs Afghans $1–1.5 million daily. It costs the Pakistanis $3–4 million weekly.
The Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan remains sealed for the 38th consecutive day, sending shockwaves through trade networks on both sides of the Durand Line. The prolonged closure, triggered by rising political tensions and security concerns, has strangled commerce, stranded thousands of trucks, and intensified calls for diplomatic intervention.
According to a report by Amu TV, key border crossings – including Torkham – have been shut for more than five weeks, paralyzing trade and creating a humanitarian bottleneck. Traders and transporters say freight volumes have collapsed: what once brought in scores of containers now comes in trickles, with only 10 to 15 containers arriving weekly at some points.
On the Afghan side, dozens of cargo trucks loaded with fresh fruit and vegetables have been stuck for over a month, according to TOLOnews. Officials from the Afghanistan Chamber of Agriculture and Livestock estimate spoilage is costing traders between US$1 million and $1.5 million per day, with Pakistani losses reportedly ranging from $3 million to $4 million daily.
Afghan Produce Rotting, Pakistani Exporters Squeezed
The impact is being felt most acutely in eastern Afghanistan. Mirwais Hajizada, deputy head of the agricultural chamber, warned that the roadblocks could irreparably damage Afghanistan’s harvest season. “Our fruit harvest had ripened and was ruined,” he said.
Traders from Nangarhar say they were forced to auction off perishable goods locally at steep losses, citing ruined produce and mounting transportation costs. TOLOnews quoted Ayazullah, one such trader, saying that onions bought for 55–60 afghanis per 7 kg in Mazar-e-Sharif are now selling for only 20 afghanis in Jalalabad after backhaul.
Meanwhile, some Pakistani customs clearing agents have alerted that the almost month-long disruption has caused significant fiscal stress, threatening export markets once considered reliable.
Protests in Landi Kotal Demand Border Reopening
On the Pakistani side, frustration is boiling over in Landi Kotal, where political leaders, transporters, and traders staged a sit-in at Bacha Khan Chowk. Demonstrators carried placards calling on both Afghan and Pakistani authorities to reopen Torkham immediately to restore commerce and allow stranded drivers, including Pakistani nationals, to return home safely.
Leaders from multiple sides, together with local clearing agents warned they will continue their peaceful protest indefinitely if the crossing remains closed.
Humanitarian Toll Mounts
It’s not just trade that’s suffering. Even medical patients and their families are trapped on both sides, unable to access medical care. Drivers have complained of subsisting on limited food and water, with many stuck in their vehicles for days.
One frustrated transport worker told media: “Our lives are being used as a political bargaining chip. We are not militants; we are just trying to make a living.”
Stakes High for Both Sides
The border shutdown comes amid wider trading and financial challenges for Afghanistan. Despite the blockade, the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) reported a surprising US$40 million increase in monthly exports in the face of severe logistical disruption. But business leaders caution that without a reliable transit route, this growth is razor-thin and fragile.
Analysts say the disruption could be more than a temporary shock: the prolonged border closure is damaging trust, undermining trade flows, and prompting a rethinking of economic dependence. Afghan authorities have already issued public warnings that they will lean less on Pakistan for their trade.
In an address carried by local television channels, Taliban leaders argued that Afghanistan must “reduce reliance on Pakistan” and diversify its trading partners – a clear signal the current impasse is reshaping long-term economic strategy.
For Afghanistan, Torkham is not just a trade route: it is a lifeline for perishable exports, transit commerce, and humanitarian access. For Pakistan, the crossing is a major revenue source and a geopolitical lever.
The shutdown threatens to exacerbate poverty, raise food insecurity, and fuel political backlash. Tribal elders, business associations, and border communities are all calling for an urgent negotiated solution – one that separates political tension from commerce.
As the 38-day shutdown continues, both sides face mounting pressure. Unless the Torkham crossing reopens soon, the economic and human costs risk becoming permanent scars on bilateral trade.
