ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has restarted Afghan transit trade in phases after a 10-day suspension, following an “immediate ceasefire” agreement with the Taliban government reached in Doha, Qatar.
Around 300 trucks that were stuck at different points are now being cleared, starting from the Chaman border crossing.
According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Transit Trade (Customs), cargo clearance will take place in three stages on a “first in, first out” basis once the backlog is removed.
In the first phase, nine vehicles that were sent back when the Friendship Gate was closed will be reweighed and rescanned, with full inspection if any issue is found.
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The second phase includes 74 vehicles returned from the NLC Border Terminal Yard, which will also undergo reweighing and scanning.
In the third phase, 217 vehicles parked in the halting yard will be cleared to cross into Afghanistan.
The directive mentions that photographs of all returning or halted vehicles will be taken and stored at the Friendship Gate for transparency and proper documentation.
Officials said the reopening of trade will provide relief to traders and transporters who suffered losses during the closure. They added that security checks have been made stricter to prevent smuggling and illegal trade.
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The Chaman crossing remains Pakistan’s key trade route with Afghanistan, handling dozens of trucks daily. Authorities expect the phased reopening to restore smooth cross-border trade and strengthen economic ties between both countries.
Pakistan had closed all major crossings along the 2,600-kilometre border with Afghanistan, including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda and Ghulam Khan, on October 11.
Following talks in Qatar on October 19, both countries agreed to an immediate ceasefire and decided to meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss further details.
