In the past, Torkham handled daily traffic of around 10,000 people, 500 to 700 freight and passenger vehicles.
Torkham Border. Photo: file
PESHAWAR:
The Torkham border post, a vital artery for trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has been closed to all movement and commercial activity for over four months, since mid-October last year.
The shutdown, triggered by border clashes between Pakistani forces and Afghan Taliban fighters, has crippled cross-border trade, stranded hundreds of trucks, put thousands out of work and disrupted supply chains in both countries.
According to border sources and trade associations, the crossing was sealed following deadly exchanges on the night of October 11-12, when Afghan Taliban forces attacked Pakistani security posts in retaliation for alleged airstrikes. This led to the indefinite closure of not only Torkham but also other key points including Kharlachi, Ghulam Khan, Angoor Adda and Chaman. Although a ceasefire was negotiated soon after through Qatar and Turkey, trade routes remained closed due to ongoing security demands and tensions.
The economic toll is staggering. Traders estimate daily export losses through Torkham alone at around $2 million (around Rs 560 million at current rates), with pre-shutdown imports valued much higher. Over approximately 120 days, this translates into export damages exceeding $240 million, or hundreds of billions of rupees when including the halt in imports, lost customs revenue and knock-on effects. Recent reports from business groups indicate that Pakistan’s monthly export losses are approaching $177 million (50 billion rupees), with bilateral trade falling by more than 50 percent in recent periods.
Before the closure, Torkham handled daily traffic of around 10,000 people and 500 to 700 freight and passenger vehicles. Its sudden shutdown crippled local supply chains, transportation networks and border markets. Mujeeb Shinwari, president of the All Clearance Agents’ Association, said more than 150 customs clearance offices in Torkham have closed their doors, putting at least 1,000 people out of work. “It’s not just about closed offices,” he said. “Dozens of families have seen their homes become cold. Without urgent action, the damage could become irreversible.”
Zakir Shinwari, president of the Torkham union, reported that more than 4,000 daily wage workers, including drivers, loaders, porters, hotel owners and service providers, have lost their livelihoods. Faisal Malook, vice-president of the Landi Kotal traders’ union, described the near-total collapse of local commerce: “The markets are empty of customers. In the past, people crossed daily to go to work and returned with goods; now there is nothing left.
The shutdown also distorted prices. Afghan exports of vegetables, cotton, and especially dried fruits, almonds, raisins, figs, pistachios and pine nuts, have stopped, leading to sharp increases in Pakistani markets. Conversely, Pakistan’s exports such as potatoes, citrus fruits, bananas, jaggery and medicines have declined, depressing prices for the country’s farmers and producers and causing heavy losses.
The impact extends beyond the immediate border. Pakistan’s factories that rely on Afghan raw materials or markets have slowed, while hopes for expanded access to Central Asia via Afghanistan, through projects like the CASA-1000 power transmission, have faded amid regional instability.
