Due to Kabul’s insurance in Islamabad on TTP and other key questions, the trade between the two parties reached $ 1 billion in the first six months of 2025.
The latest report published by the Afghan Ministry of Commerce shows an increasing interest in bilateral trade. According to data, Afghanistan recorded $ 277 million in exports to Pakistan, while Islamabad generated $ 712 million in export to Afghanistan in the first half of the current year.
Afghanistan’s main exports to Pakistan included cotton, coal, soft stone and dried fruit. In return, Islamabad has exported industrial and food products.
“Pakistan and Afghanistan are naturally geographically linked business partners. However, new restrictions and prohibitions on certain articles have created mixed feelings among traders on both sides, leading to a drop in commercial volume. We must separate the trade from policy, security problems and TTP,” said a senior Afghan official and declared to a senior Afghan and TTP, High Afghan Afghan official. The Express PK Press Club by phone.
To reach the previous commercial levels of more than $ 3 billion, Islamabad must show flexibility in customs tasks and activate facilitation committees with four main border points: Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Kharlachi and Spin Boldak (shaman). Wagah, Karachi and Gwadar border services must also resume, because Afghan merchants face difficulties in all the ports mentioned, said Noor Khan, a coal merchant from Jalalabad, addressing The platform.
“Due to difficulties in border crossings, visa problems and Islamabad restrictions after each security incident, trade is seriously affected. However, the six-month figures still reflect the positive diplomatic commitment between Islamabad and Kabul, largely due to the diplomacy of the Vice-Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the diplomacy of the Sadiq Khan ambassador, “added Khan.
“This is a positive development in Bilateral Trade Between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has nearly reacheed $ 1 Billion in Just the First Half of 2025 (January-June). If Trade continues without disruption, The Bilateral Trade Volume COULD REACH $ 2 Billion by Yend,” Nawaz Khan, a senior journalist with The Washington Postsaid The Express PK Press Club.
“The current commercial balance can reach the peak of $ 2 billion a decade ago.
“The commercial volumes were slow between 2020 and 2023, remaining below a billion dollars. However, despite political and security obstacles and closings of commercial roads, trade continued. ”
“Islamabad has taken measures to ensure that the trade flow remains unscathed despite serious challenges. The efforts of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar and the Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq give positive results, leading to unprecedented growth in exports and imports. ”
The bilateral commercial data published by the Kabul Ministry of Industry and Trade show that trade remains inclined in favor of Pakistan, Pakistan representing around 70% of total commercial exports, compared to 30% of Afghanistan.
“I believe that Kabul and Islamabad should tackle trade separately from political issues, which have considerably affected trade in recent years,” said Haq. “The recent wave of terrorism in the northwest of Pakhtunkhwa in northwestern Pakistan is a serious challenge, but that should not affect trade. If Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to create obstacles, other countries can capture their respective markets. ”
It is relevant to mention that the special envoy of Pakistan will go to Kabul in the coming days to relieve the commercial environment and discuss the issue of TTP, which has raised concerns in the districts of the North and South.
